Going Organic in Beijing

For those who want to introduce some more organic options into their lives, the Beijing Organic Farmers’ Market is held weekly around Beijing (see their microblog at weibo.com/farmersmarketbj). Arrive early to get the best produce. Expect to pay more than you would at a supermarket – prices can be anywhere between 20 to 200 percent higher. A cheaper option is subscribing to a farm (see image) who will deliver weekly boxes of vegetables to your door. This is cheaper, and RMB 100 will generally buy weekly vegetables for two or three people.

The Chez Panisse-organized dinner inaugurating the first USChina Forum on the Arts and Culture was hosted by the US Embassy, attended by celebrities, and featured locally sourced artisanal and organic ingredients. In fact, the organizers fully intended that the dinner give an intangible boost – in the form of prestige and publicity – to the local farms that supplied this very high-profile event. Will the halo effect help the market for organic produce in Beijing to bloom? We hope so, but in the meantime we’re happy to use our soapbox to help spread the word.

Click here to see the January issue of the Beijinger in full.