China's green food industry is enjoying fast development with the number of organic food companies nearing 3,000 nationwide, said sources with China's Green Food Association yesterday.

By the end of 2004, China had a total of 2,836 organic food companies which turn out 6,496 categories of products, the association said.

The green food sales volume in domestic markets totaled 86 billion yuan (US$10.7 billion) between 1990 and 2004, with export volume in the same period hitting US$1.25 billion, the source said.

China is promoting organic or "green" agriculture as part of its coordinated and sustainable agricultural development. The aim is to produce safe and nutritious agricultural products by taking advantage of advanced biological technologies, the source said.

Presently, 16 provinces and municipalities in China have set up pilot green food development areas, the source said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2005)