Duanyuan Town Pomegranates

Duanyuan Town Pomegranates

　　Pomegranates in Duanyuan Town are mainly planted in three natural villages—Qicun, Duanyuan, and Maozhuang—located along the mountainous belt in the northern part of the town, with a cultivation history of over 200 years. Duanyuan Town pomegranates are renowned for their vibrant color, large and juicy yet soft seeds, unique flavor, moderate taste, and rich nutrition. For many years, they have enjoyed a strong reputation in fruit markets in Huaibei, Xuzhou, and other areas, and are hailed as “crystal pearls.”

　　 In recent years, the town government has prioritized the development of the pomegranate industry as the second-largest sector after grapes. The focus is not only on increasing production volume but also on improving quality, with particular emphasis on cultivating premium varieties, actively engaging in varietal improvement, strictly managing cultivar selection, and emphasizing meticulous management both on and off the tree. Cultivation techniques continue to be refined, while efforts are also made to enhance greening, beautification, and environmental purification within orchards. The strategy promotes planting “beside four areas” and “along ten edges,” allowing the pomegranate industry to develop in accordance with local conditions. As a result, the industry has expanded rapidly, with planting area increasing year by year. Currently, the town’s total pomegranate cultivation area has surpassed 5,000 mu, including over 3,500 mu of mature orchards and over 1,500 mu of young orchards. Annual production exceeds 17.5 million jin, with an output value of over 31.5 million yuan. Major varieties include Daqingpi, Dahongpao, Bingtangzi, and Ruanzi No. 4. Among these, Daqingpi pomegranates, also known as Iron Skin pomegranates, are the dominant variety in Qicun. In 2001, this variety was recognized as a high-quality product at the National Pomegranate Production Area Experience Exchange and Collaboration Conference held in Lintong County, Shaanxi Province, and was also certified as a quality product by the Huaibei Pomegranate Research Institute in the same year. This variety is considered top-tier in quality, with high yield and suitability for large-scale development. Dahongpao pomegranate trees are vigorous, highly productive, and resistant to storage and transport, offering excellent quality, making it a superior variety suitable for mountainous regions.