Yongding Persimmon

Yongding Persimmon

Yongding persimmon is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Yongding persimmon is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Yongding persimmon is a specialty of Yongding County, Longyan City, Fujian Province. The Yongding persimmon is flat-round in shape, with few or no seeds; the fruit has a bright red and attractive exterior, tender flesh, thick juice, and a sweet filling-like taste that is refreshing and delicious. Yongding persimmon is a nationally protected geographical indication agricultural product.

　　The Yongding persimmon was gradually domesticated, cultivated, and selected by Yongding persimmon farmers over more than 500 years. In March 1994, it was recognized as an excellent persimmon variety by the Fujian Provincial New Variety Approval Committee, and in 2001, it obtained the right to use the green food logo. Yongding County is the largest persimmon production base in East China and the county with the highest persimmon yield in Fujian Province.

　　The main planting bases are located in eight townships in the Jinfeng area: Guzhu, Gaotou, Hukeng, Daxi, Chendong, Qiling, Xiayang, and Hushan, covering a planting area of over 80,000 mu, with a total output of 64,000 tons in 2006. This variety produces medium to large fruits, with bright red and attractive skin, orange-red flesh, sticky and dense texture, soft yet elastic, sweet as syrup, refreshing and delicious, with few or no seeds. The harvesting period is from mid-August to early November. Processed products mainly include persimmon cakes, frozen persimmons, persimmon wine.

　　Yongding persimmon is cultivated under the special climatic conditions of Yongding through the efforts of generations of persimmon farmers over more than 500 years. Currently, the persimmon planting area in Yongding County reaches 86,000 mu, with an output of over 60,000 tons, involving over 20,000 households in industrialized operations, making it the largest persimmon production base in East China.

　　The Yongding persimmon weighs between 150 and 200 grams per fruit, is flat-round in shape, and has few or no seeds; the fruit has a bright red and attractive exterior, tender flesh, thick juice, and a sweet filling-like taste that is refreshing and delicious. A series of processed products such as persimmon cakes, persimmon wine, persimmon preserves, and persimmon jam have been successfully developed.

　　In recent years, to promote the coordinated development of “production, processing, and distribution,” Yongding County has focused on creating well-known and high-quality persimmon brands, improving the commercialization rate and added value of persimmons, and increasing the yield and income of persimmon farmers. Yongding County has formulated the “Green Food Planting Operation Procedures for Yongding Persimmon” and effectively implemented them. Currently, Yongding persimmon has obtained the right to use the “green food” logo and is the only persimmon product in Fujian Province to receive this distinction. Over the years, the application of standardized green food cultivation techniques has ensured the quality and safety of Yongding persimmon products, increased yield and the rate of high-quality fruits, and resulted in mature persimmons that are large, brightly colored, and sweet.

　　In 2014, the “Yongding Persimmon” applied for by the Yongding County Persimmon Professional Technical Association passed the review of the Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and expert evaluation, and was registered for national geographical indication protection of agricultural products.

　　Geographic Scope

　　Yongding County is located in the southwest of Fujian Province. The protected geographic indication area for the agricultural product “Yongding Persimmon” includes: eight townships under the jurisdiction of Yongding County—Qiling Township, Chendong Township, Guzhu Township, Gaotou Township, Hukeng Town, Daxi Township, Xiayang Town, and Hushan Township—covering the southwestern part of Fujian Province, with geographical coordinates between 116°25' to 117°05' east longitude and 24°23' to 25°05' north latitude. It borders Nanjing County and Pinghe County to the east, and Guangdong’s Dabu County to the south, with a total protected area of 780.2 square kilometers, current production area of 4,900 hectares, and annual total output of 50,000 tons. Within this region, persimmons grown at altitudes between 300 and 800 meters have the best quality, are more resistant to storage and transport, and meet the quality requirements of Yongding persimmon. This is mainly due to the large diurnal temperature variation, which aids in the accumulation of photosynthetic products. Although yields are higher in areas below 300 meters altitude, the fruit does not develop fully, resulting in inferior quality, and juice may flow out when the persimmons ripen, making them less suitable for storage.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. The Yongding persimmon has a cultivation history of over 500 years and is the earliest maturing persimmon in the economically cultivated areas of southeastern China. The main production areas are located in eight townships in the southeastern part of Yongding County, including Qiling Township and Hukeng Town. The persimmon trees are robust with good yield potential. The fruit is medium-sized, weighing 120–180g, with a slightly flat-round and square shape. Mature fruits are yellow-green with slight red blush, while post-mature fruits have bright red skin with a thin whitish bloom. The flesh is orange-red, soft, with little juice that doesn’t drip during eating, and has a sweet taste. 2. Internal quality indicators: soluble solids content of 16%–21%, single fruit weight of 120g–180g. 3. Safety requirements: Yongding persimmon complies with the “Green Food Temperate Fruit” (NY/T844-2010) standard.