Stephen F. Austin State University

Dr. David Creech, professor of agriculture and director of the Mast Arboretum at Stephen F. Austin State University, recently returned from an expedition to Northern China. Creech has worked with the Chinese blueberry industry since 2001, but this was his first expedition to the part of China where highbush and lowbush blueberry varieties are gaining in popularity as an alternative new crop. Although soil and water conditions are suitable for blueberry farming in China, commercial development is still years away. However, Creech said, China is poised to make a big jump in production over the next decade, driven by the increase in popularity of blueberries, which are rich in antioxidants and have been found to play a role in preventing macular degeneration and improving eye health. Creech, center, is pictured with, at right, Carrie Xu, translator, and Chris Li, agriculture officer with China Holdings in International Commerce, an international company based in China with financial backing from American investors. The group was visiting a 100-acre farm that utilizes concrete pots with bamboo crosspieces to provide bird netting during the harvest season and covering in the late winter to encourage early bloom and early fruiting. Creech said the growing blueberry industry in China is geared for dealing with domestic demand, but not for export to other nations.