Urban farms sprout up on the outskirts of Beijing

A recent string of food safety scandals have prompted some health-conscious citizens to boycott the markets and grow their own produce by renting their own plots in a local farm.Food safety scandals in China have been under scrutiny in recent times.In May, Chinese state media reported that watermelons in Chinas east Jiangsu province had burst before they ripened, after farmers used too much chemicals to make the fruits sweeter and more crisp.Chinas food sector has been beset by poisonings and toxin scandals that have shaken consumer confidence. Numerous crackdowns have apparently had little effect.