Beijing is gearing up for a five-year campaign to give the capital's residents healthier food.

Most Beijing people would have previously scoffed at the idea that agricultural products such as vegetables and fruit should be sold under registered brands, but they will have to get used to the idea.

All food sold in Beijing by 2005 will have to meet strict quality standards, Zhao Fengshan, a top rural work official said, quoted by Friday's China Daily.

Before that, Beijing will concentrate on securing the quality of seven main food types used daily -- vegetables, fruit, grain, meat, eggs, milk, and fish. Officials will check on products from their production to when they are served at dinner tables.

By doing this, the city will improve ordinary people's lives. Beijing also hopes its annual food exports will exceed 10 billion yuan (US$ 1.2 billion) by 2005.

Beijing was made a pilot city this April by the Ministry of Agriculture in a national campaign dedicated to improving the overall quality of the country's agricultural products.

Quality defects have resulted in Chinese agricultural products taking up only a small share of the international market, and have even led to them being barred from certain markets.

Last, Beijing selected Liqiao Town in the eastern suburbs as a pilot base for the healthier food campaign. The town has reported gains made without having to increase output.

The average household revenue of over 3,000 vegetable growers in the town was more than 20,000 yuan (US$2,400) last year, at least three times the city's average for farmers.

(Eastday.com.cn 06/01/2001)