Jiangnan Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, the largest market of its kind in South China, has traded 6,000 tons of vegetables from Hubei province since business resumed 16 days ago.

The vegetables, including lotus root, stem lettuce and turnips, have come from Xiaogan, Jiayu, Jinzhou and Yichang in Hubei, said Ye Canjiang, general manager of the market, on Wednesday.

Hubei was hard hit by the coronavirus. The lockdown of its capital, Wuhan, was lifted on Wednesday as the health situation has improved.

Thirty-nine farm produce wholesale markets and 610 other produce markets in Guangzhou have increased their procurement from Hubei, said Lin Guoqiang, deputy director of Guangzhou Commerce Bureau.

Supermarkets, fresh food chains and e-commerce platforms in Guangzhou have also been encouraged to buy farm goods and processed food from Hubei, he said.