China produces far more vegetables than any other country in the world.It has used greenhouses, special buildings for growing plants, for many years.But food supply problems created by coronavirus restrictions have sped the development of high-tech glass greenhouses in the country.At Chongming Island near Shanghai, China's most populous city, workers collect tomatoes and cucumbers inside a new, glass greenhouse.The Dutch company FoodVentures operates the greenhouse. It began harvesting vegetables in May.The greenhouse is one of many appearing near China's very large cities.These new structures use high-end technology to control water flow, temperature and lighting systems.The greenhouses grow vegetables within easy reach of a large and increasingly wealthy base of buyers.Dirk Aleven is director of FoodVentures. Aleven noted the increase in demand for fresh food since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis.
