A worker picks tomatoes in the tomato theme town in Jinzhong, Shanxi province. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

Every morning, Spanish agricultural expert Francisco Garcia makes video calls to his Chinese colleague.

What worries the Spanish agricultural expert is a tomato theme town located in the city of Jinzhong in North China's Shanxi province. 

The theme town was established by Shanxi Tinnsen Tomato Technology Co in Taigu district in 2017 and has a full set of greenhouse equipment from Spain, tomato varieties, and technical guidance from foreign experts. 

Its automated numerical control seedling raising system for tomato production provides seedlings with nutritional needs at different stages, and the shading curtain system dynamically adjusts the light and temperature in the shed according to weather conditions, creating a favorable environment for tomato growth. 

The tomato varieties grown in the town come from Europe, many of them from Spain. 

According to Garcia, the team has continuously cultivated and selected tomatoes that are most suited to the Chinese environment and sale in China from among around 40 varieties. 

The town has also received technical support from a large number of Chinese personnel. The climate is quite different from that in Spain, and the planting technology requires targeted adjustment by Chinese agricultural experts. 

It is the Chinese expert team that turns Spanish technology into Chinese technology and expands the tomato planting chain to build a modern agricultural park. 

Gao Ruili, the general manager of the company, said that the theme town has provided more than 100 jobs for surrounding farmers, and local farmers have built 150,000 square meters of intelligently controlled glass greenhouses, bringing the tomato output per square meter up to 15 kg.

The tomato theme town has been certified by the global Good Agriculture Practice for several consecutive years, and the quality of tomatoes has reached European agricultural export standards. 

Du Yinwu, chairman of Shanxi Tinnsen Group, said that the theme town has increased farmers' incomes and promoted agricultural production technology. 

In addition to producing and selling fresh fruits, the town has built a new tomato juice processing production line to extend the tomato industrial chain and increase added value.

In the future, it plans to build a tomato cultural expo and other projects to expand business, research, training and other cultural and tourism activities. 

"I look forward to exporting tomatoes from China's 'tomato town' to more countries, and I believe there will be more cooperation projects between China, Spain and Europe," Garcia added.