Shanghai,Dec 3 , 2010  --- Walmart China held a grand opening ceremony in Fengxian District, Shanghai, to launch its 1st Direct Farm project in Shanghai , covering 7,100 mu (about 1200 acres), the project is expected to benefit 12,000 local farmers.  This is also Walmart's 63th  Direct Farm project in China.

Senior Director of Sustainability for Walmart Beth Keck, Vice Director of Shanghai Municipal Agricultural Commission jointly unveiled the Walmart Zhuangxing Jingxian Direct Farm project in Shanghai. The opening ceremony was attended by several other senior Walmart executives, including Senior Manager of Walmart Asia Alisha Barnes, Senior Director of Merchandising Ricky Wang, Corporate Affairs Director of East Region for Walmart China Jaeson Huang. The project is Walmart’s first direct farm base in Shanghai.

Jaeson Huang, Corporate Affairs Director of East Region for Walmart China, said on the occasion: “Walmart China is committed to sustainable development in China. The Direct Farm program is a great example of what Walmart’s approach to sustainability means. It’s a multi-win program benefitting the enterprise, the environment, customers, farmers and the local economy. With this project in Shanghai, we will bring high quality fresh vegetables to consumers and return the cost we save in purchasing and transportation to consumers in the form of lower prices. This all helps us deliver on our commitment of ‘saving people money so that they can live better.’”

During the process, Walmart and Jingrui Agriculture Development organized technicians to transfer the knowledge to local farmers, thus farmers could better adapt to market conditions. Farmers are encouraged them to choose standardized and scaled production methods, and are provided instructions on ways to preserve the environment in production activities via sustainable agriculture program. These initiatives have not only advanced the optimization of the industrial supply chain and improved food safety, but they have also raised farmers’ incomes and benefited customers by providing them with fresh quality products at low prices. The vegetable base that will benefit 12,000 farmers, bringing a sales revenue of RMB 12.75 million.

Ying Ou from Shanghai Municipal Agriculture Commission said at the ceremony, “The Chinese government attaches great importance to the Three Rural Issues (agriculture, rural areas and farmers). Walmart’s Direct Farm Project in Shanghai has opened an express line for produce vegetables to enter Walmart stores Yangtze River Delta. This not only brings considerable economic benefits to local farmers, but also strongly promotes the development of the local economy according to its own strengths.”

Walmart executives said, “Walmart is delighted to see the income and living conditions of Chinese farmers increase. We also hope they will set an example for more local farmers, encouraging them to get involved in the project.”

Walmart’s Direct Farm program was launched in 2007. Through its Direct Farm program, Walmart applied its global experience in sustainable agriculture to China’s supply chain system, transferred knowledge to farms for scientific planting, and adaptability to the market, encouraged and guided standard and scaled production, and helped the farmers to improve environmental protection in production.

Up to Nov 30th, 2010, Walmart China has established 62 direct farm projects in 18 provinces and municipalities across China, covering an area of more than 640,000 mu and involving over 720,000 farmers. By the end of 2011, Walmart hopes its Direct Farm program will have involved and benefited more than one million farmers, and that one third of vegetables and fruit sold in Walmart stores will have come from its direct farm projects.