Growing great grapes with less labor

Cleaner product

Modern grape production has a higher level of automation, more sophisticated development of varieties and uses fewer pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

The changes have resulted in sweeter grapes that command higher prices. Wang studied horticulture in college and fruit tree cultivation at Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, Hubei province.

Before graduating in 2008, she was offered an internship at the Malu Grape Research Institute, which produces the best grapes in China.

"When I first got to the institute, I knew nothing about the features of the dozens of grape varieties," Wang recalled. "I thought it would be difficult to learn them all. But gradually I got to know them one by one, just like making the acquaintance of people."

Wang can now recite the names of more than 50 different types of grapes grown in the park in large quantities and knows the intricacies of cultivating each variety.

In April, the park opened a museum of grapes. Wang spent a day placing more than 200 name tags on the different varieties to help educate visitors. "We want people who come to the garden not only to pick grapes, but also become knowledgeable about them," she said.

In 2012, Wang participated in a breeding experiment on the popular Jufeng grape variety to improve its taste. She spent a month working in the greenhouse nipping the unwanted buds every day.

The grapes produced at the park are sold for 80 yuan ($11) per kg.

Because of their popularity and high quality, grapes grown in Malu township are protected by a geographical designation issued by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce in 2014, which prohibits the use of the name Malu for grapes produced elsewhere.