Calif. Strawberries Bound For China's Top Athletes

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RENEE MONTAGNE, host:

And our last word in business is about an unexpected boost some California farmers are getting thanks to China's Olympic athletes. The word is strawberries. Chinese officials asked their Olympic team what fruit they most desired as they strive for gold and the athletes said strawberries. But strawberry season in China has already ended, so officials turned to California, where strawberry growers have been trying to break into the China market for years.

Last weekend, crews in Watsonville combed through a one-acre patch looking for the most perfect berries. And yesterday the first shipment of American strawberry exports arrived in Beijing, destined for the stomachs of China's top athletes and possibly U.S. dignitaries, like President Bush.

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