Guiyang Radish

Guiyang Radish

Guiyang Radish is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Guiyang Radish is a specialty of Jianning County, Sanming City, Fujian Province.

　　 Guiyang Village is located in the northwest corner of Huangbu Township, Jianning County, Fujian Province, bordering Guangchang County of Jiangxi Province to the northwest and Nanfeng County of Jiangxi to the northeast. It was the first village through which the Red Army entered Fujian from Jiangxi. It is less than an hour’s drive from Guangchang, Nanfeng, and the county seat of Jianning, and is the farthest village from Huangbu Township.

　　 Guiyang Village has a tradition of growing winter radishes, utilizing late rice paddies every year to cultivate locally renowned radishes. The resulting radishes are not only crisp and exceptionally high in water content but also have very little spiciness, earning them some local fame. Many organizations use them as gifts representing Jianning’s specialties, and last year, demand even outstripped supply. Due to the demanding requirements for growing Guiyang Radish—only paddies after late rice harvest can be used—and the village’s unique geographic and climatic conditions, only Guiyang can produce these uniquely flavored radishes. Radishes grown in nearby Dayu and Chenyu Villages differ in quality. In the past, limited land availability and blind overproduction led to situations where radishes couldn’t be sold and rotted in the fields. In recent years, with the stable and increasing income from tobacco production, radish cultivation has decreased somewhat, currently stabilizing at about 80 acres per year, with yields reaching up to 4,000 pounds per acre. Since winter radish sales are limited to the period just before Chinese New Year, efforts are focused on breaking through land constraints, increasing planting volume, improving winter farmland utilization, expanding the reputation and sales of Guiyang Radish, boosting farmers’ enthusiasm, and transforming blind cultivation into an integrated production, supply, and sales service model. Establishing a radish cooperative has become a shared vision for developing this industry.

　　 In June 2010, six major radish growers in Guiyang Village initiated the establishment of the Jianning County Guiyang Radish Professional Cooperative. With the support and leadership of governments at all levels, the cooperative formulated its charter and management system. Since its establishment, the cooperative has mainly focused on production and sales. In terms of production, it plans planting areas, signs purchase contracts with farmers to boost their enthusiasm, and expands production scale. During the planting process, it strengthens oversight and tracking, provides regular technical training, and strictly controls pesticide and fertilizer use to ensure product quality. Cooperative members frequently visit fields to guide farmers. In terms of sales, relevant county and township departments and resident cadres have strongly supported and guided the cooperative’s work. First, the radish was branded under the “Guiyang” trademark. In May 2011, applications were submitted for pollution-free product and pollution-free base certifications. Product packaging boxes were designed to enhance the product’s quality grade, differentiate it from ordinary radishes, and build an image of a local specialty. In November 2011, an agreement was signed with the provincial government to supply the Fujian Provincial Non-Staple Food Base. By establishing a website and using the Mobile Supply and Marketing System, product promotion was increased and sales channels were actively expanded. In March 2012, Guiyang Radish also obtained certification as a Fujian Green Product.

　　 In 2011, Guiyang Village planted over 100 acres of radishes, with a total yield of nearly 400,000 pounds. On one hand, the cooperative strengthened quality control in sales, inspecting for hollow, black-hearted, or cracked radishes during purchase to prevent substandard products from being boxed or sold. On the other hand, it changed the previous sales model from per-pound to whole-box sales. Each box, containing about 15 pounds of radishes, was sold for nearly 25 yuan, raising the overall price of radishes. This ensured grower income and turned around the cooperative’s previous loss-making operations, marking its first profitable year. Additionally, the cooperative implemented a flexible sales policy: growers could purchase packaging boxes from the cooperative and sell directly at a unified price, leveraging their own sales capabilities and avoiding placing all sales responsibilities on the cooperative, thereby further expanding sales channels.

　　 In 2012, the Guiyang Radish Professional Cooperative will build on last year’s successful operations to further strengthen its management. First, it will rationally adjust the radish production cycle by organizing members to plant radishes in batches, staggering the planting schedule to avoid concentrated market entry, lengthen the sales period, and provide a more ample supply timeline. Second, it plans to develop a series of radish products, shifting from selling only fresh radishes to offering a range of radish-based products. Preliminary market research shows that small-bucket packaged fresh pickled radishes, dried radishes, and salted radishes have broad market potential. For example, a 750-gram jar of salted radish can fetch up to 13 yuan, with relatively simple production techniques and strong feasibility. Third, this year the cooperative will establish sales channels in Jianning, Sanming, and Fuzhou, moving away from the passive wait-for-customers model to actively promote the product series across the province. Fourth, efforts will be made to further establish Guiyang Radish as a national geographical indication product and obtain QS certification, opening up farm-to-supermarket channels and further expanding sales volume.

　　 Although our Guiyang Radish Professional Cooperative has only been established for two years and still faces many shortcomings, we are determined to leverage our strengths, overcome weaknesses, and build the cooperative into a leading force serving the villagers of Guiyang. We aim to drive local production, increase incomes, and help achieve a moderately prosperous life as soon as possible.

　　Guiyang Radish

　　 Huangbu Township Agricultural Service Center, Jianning County

　　 13111566

　　 Fresh Radish