Guangdong Minghuang Tea Company in Changshan town, Lianjiang, Zhanjiang started picking and making this year's spring tea on Feb 26.

According to Li Dan, chairman of Minghuang Tea Company, the total planted area is over 10,000 mu (666.67 hectares), including the six major planting bases and tea-growing farms supported by the company. The area has a total population of more than 15,000 in nearly 4,000 households, of which over 6,000 people are directly employees.

Based on the need to prevent and control the novel coronavirus epidemic, the company has improved the original operation mode of the picking area, from team picking to personal sub-area picking. Each tea picker is responsible for the picking of about 10 mu of tea gardens.

Every day, the company informs the farmers of the latest epidemic prevention and control requirements in paper and on WeChat, as well as sends staff to patrol each picking area.

In order to resume production while adhering to the epidemic prevention and control measures, the company has made new plans for this year's production and operation. It is also ready to respond to new changes in the market. It has started to further improve the efficiency of e-commerce, newly developed high-end scented tea, as well as strengthened innovation and technology of products by applying for patents.

Staff members of Guangdong Minghuang Tea Company pick tea leaves. [Photo by Wu Jiantao/gdzjdaily.com.cn]

The first basket of tea picked in Lianjiang this year is poured into a tea-making machine. [Photo by Wu Jiantao/gdzjdaily.com.cn]