Shanghai Daily news

While the snow has had some disastrous consequences, the city's economic commission pledged a happy Spring Festival with adequate food supplies for Shanghai residents.

Supply of grain and edible oil during the Lunar New Year holiday - which runs from Wednesday until February 12 - will increase by 16 percent compared with the same period last year, and supply of pork, seafood and vegetables is expected to rise six percent, the commission said.

The recent bad weather affected food supplies from northern China, which put pressure on local food reserves, said Chen Haigang, vice director of the economic commission.

The commission called on the city's major wholesale markets and supermarket chains to ensure enough balanced food varieties for the coming festival.

The city has a pork reserve of 14,000 tons and 10 bean product plants will operate normally, according to the commission which promised stable food prices at local markets.

With open-air fields being damaged by freezing temperatures, local farmers used greenhouses to maintain supply for the festival, according to the city's agriculture commission.