Is County-Level Urban–Rural Integration Associated with Farmers’ Green Production Capabilities? Evidence from 506 Vegetable Growers in Shandong and Zhejiang, China

This study examined the association between county-level urban–rural integration and farmers’ green production capabilities, conceptualizing the county context as a local opportunity structure. It also examined whether this association differed by farm scale. Data were collected from 506 farmers in Shandong and Zhejiang between late 2024 and early 2025; 282 were primarily engaged in vegetable production, while 224 cultivated vegetables alongside other crops. A county-level urban–rural integration index (CURI) was developed covering four dimensions: economic, social, spatial, and ecological and agricultural production integration. The hypotheses were evaluated using ordered logit and city random-intercept models. The baseline CURI was positively associated with self-rated green production capabilities. A one-sample-standard-deviation increase in CURI corresponded to a 6.50 percentage point higher average predicted probability of attaining high green production capability, and the association was stronger among small-scale farmers. The analysis also showed a stable negative association between CURI and pesticide expenditure, while green production capability was positively associated with direct sales to urban end markets. Fertilizer expenditure and order- or contract-based sales showed no stable relationship. Overall, county-level urban–rural integration was a contextual correlate of green production capacity. The findings may inform the design and evaluation of future efforts to improve access to green-production services and market linkages, particularly for small-scale farmers.