Honoring the man behind the Malu grape

Shan Chuanlun checks Malu grapes.

“These grapes are really tasty!” said Tang Zheng-ming from Xuhui District,a visitor at the Malu Grape Grape Theme Park in Jiading District.The park is a planting base of Malu grapes,a species thathas just been honored as“China's Famous Brand of Agricul-tural Products”and will be served at the Olympics.

In the early June,the Malu grape festival opened in the theme park and for three months visitors can taste the well-known sweet grapes and wines.

The history of Malu grapes in Shanghai goes back to an enterprising man,Shan Chuanlun, from Shandong Province.

Hired as an agricultural technician,Shan left his home-town for Shanghai in 1976.He took fruit samples with him and found that the grapes once planted in Shandong(Jufeng grapes),adapted very well to Shanghai's climate.The vines did better than other transplanted Shandong fruit.

Though locals treated him as an outsider at first,Shan was not discouraged.He conducted research on planting techniques,disease and pest prevention,soil and climate.He experimented and concluded that Jufeng grapes were the right species for Malu Town and that the planting area should be enlarged.

The Malu government agreed and the plan was implement-ed.The planting area soon reached 400 hectares,10 times larger than the first experimental plots.

In 20 years,Malu grapes became a well-known brand and brought the farmers 500 million yuan(US$73.3 million).

Malu grapesare distinctive for their high sugar content,greenish-purple color and large seeds.They soon became Shanghai locals'favorite.

Malu is praisea as the“Town of Grapes,”while the Malu brand has been named a“Famous Brand of Shanghai.”

Malu gave full support to talented innovators like Shan Chuanlun.

Wang Zhongming,former Party secretary of Malu Town,helped Shan with his new residence registration.Not only have the town 1eaders helped Shan greatly,but also the Jiading District government spared no efforts in advancing Shan's agriculture plans.

“The government gives my staff everything we need,”said Shan.

With the support of Malu govemment,Shan realized his dream:he founded the Shanghai Malu Grape Development Co Ltd in 2003.

In 2006,the grape theme park was established,combiningplanting,researching and agricultural tourism.It offers spots like the Lovers'Garden,Grape Gallery and the popular Grape Restaurant.

Though Shan's Malu grapes are several times more costly than ordinary grapes,the demand far exceeds the supply.

Shan never stops innovating.He has developed new spe-cies—a grape enriched with microelements,a milk grape,and soilless cultivated grape.His enterprising spirit has won him fame and wealth.

“The local govemment backs me all the time and I shall never let them down.I will make their support worthwhile,”said Shan.