Dawn Sweet Potatoes

Dawn Sweet Potatoes

Dawn Sweet Potatoes is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　 Small sweet potatoes may seem ordinary, but in Shuguang Village, Guanqiao Town, they have become a shining calling card.

　　 In November 2013, the "Dawn Sweet Potatoes" geographical indication certification trademark successfully passed the preliminary examination by the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, officially entering a three-month announcement period. If all goes as expected, in February this year, the sweet potatoes from Shuguang Village will officially receive this "national ID card," becoming the city's second national geographical indication certification trademark after Shiting Green Tea from Fengzhou Town.

　　 Yesterday, out of curiosity, a reporter visited Shuguang Village to uncover the story behind the small sweet potatoes' quest for their "national ID card."

　　 Glory: Once a Renowned Sweet Potato Village

　　 Shuguang Village is composed of five natural villages: Dongcun, Kengnei, Xishan, Wonei, and Tushan.

　　 The sweet potatoes’ upcoming "national ID card" has brought the greatest joy to the 14 members of the Shuguang (Xishan) Sweet Potato Cooperative. Tong Baoshui, the director of the cooperative, explained that Shuguang Village has higher terrain in the northwest and lower in the southeast. The mountains in the northwest block cold winds, while sea breezes from the southeast help regulate the climate, resulting in warm, moist air. The sandy soil is rich in trace elements such as phosphorus and selenium, making it highly suitable for sweet potato cultivation.

　　 These unique regional conditions have given Dawn Sweet Potatoes a natural "anti-counterfeiting mark." "The taste of Dawn Sweet Potatoes is similar to egg yolk," said 70-year-old village resident Tong Canhui. Unlike sweet potatoes from other regions, those from Shuguang contain no tough, thread-like "fibers" that are hard to swallow.

　　 "In the past, our village was famous as a sweet potato village," Tong Canhui told reporters. In 1957, the village had a bumper sweet potato harvest, which brought it sudden fame. The provincial government even designated Shuguang Village as a model. "At that time, agricultural experts from the province came to the village to hold on-site meetings and inspect the sweet potato planting and yield."

　　 With the advent of reform and opening up, villagers went out to work or do business, and few continued to grow sweet potatoes. Currently, Shuguang Village has a population of over 1,800, but most of those who remain are elderly. Many fields have gradually become overgrown due to lack of cultivation.

　　 Seeking Change: Forming a Cooperative to Build a Brand

　　 As living standards improved, people began paying more attention to healthy eating, and once-neglected coarse grains made their way back to the dining table. In 2008, Tong Baoshui, then the village party secretary of Shuguang, decided to revive the "Dawn Sweet Potatoes" brand. Together with Tong Canhui and a dozen other villagers, he set up a cooperative to grow sweet potatoes.

　　 "Back then, many fields were overgrown with weeds," Tong Baoshui recalled. After the cooperative was established, they reclaimed wasteland, built irrigation channels, and consolidated 400 acres of land for sweet potato cultivation. By using rootstock seedlings, they ensured the "pure lineage" of Dawn Sweet Potatoes. They also fertilized the crops with organic materials like wood ash to maintain their "natural" quality.

　　 Later, the cooperative set up two dedicated Dawn Sweet Potato stalls in the Guanqiao vegetable market, gradually building its reputation. Some customers even called ahead to dig and buy sweet potatoes straight from the fields. Additionally, dried sweet potatoes and sweet potato starch processed by villagers were sold as far away as Hong Kong and Guangdong.

　　 "Our sweet potatoes have thin skins, are sweet, and have a soft texture. The unique geographical conditions give Dawn Sweet Potatoes their distinctive flavor," Tong Baoshui said. To further enhance the brand, in 2011, the cooperative applied to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce for a geographical indication certification trademark, aiming to give Dawn Sweet Potatoes their own exclusive label.

　　 In November 2013, after recognition by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, "Dawn Sweet Potatoes" entered the preliminary announcement period for the geographical indication certification trademark.

　　 Development: Three Crops a Year, Aiming for Major Supermarkets

　　 It is reported that only 640 acres of land in Shuguang Village are suitable for growing "Dawn Sweet Potatoes," with about 500 acres currently under cultivation. The local varieties, Dawn Red No. 1 and No. 2, yield around 3,500 pounds per acre, with first and second season produce selling for 1.5 yuan per pound.

　　 It is understood that conventional sweet potato cultivation yields two crops per year: the first season runs from April to July in the lunar calendar, and the second from September to December.

　　 "After December in the lunar calendar, fresh sweet potatoes become rare," Tong Baoshui said. To improve the market competitiveness of Dawn Sweet Potatoes, the cooperative began cultivating winter-ripening sweet potatoes three years ago.

　　 By using plastic mulching, the sweet potatoes are protected from freezing in winter. After three years of experimentation, the cooperative can now basically ensure production between the early-maturing sweet potato harvests, cultivating winter-ripening sweet potatoes from October in the lunar calendar to May of the following year, filling the gap during this period when fresh sweet potatoes are scarce.

　　 Last year, winter-ripening sweet potatoes from Shuguang Village sold for between 2.5 and 3 yuan per pound, with yields exceeding 3,000 pounds per acre. Compared to the first and second season sweet potatoes, this generates an additional income of over 3,000 yuan per acre for farmers. "Winter-ripening sweet potatoes are expensive, but demand still outstrips supply. We expect prices to rise further," Tong Baoshui said.

　　 "Once we obtain the national geographical indication certification trademark, we’ll be even more confident," Tong Baoshui said. With three sweet potato crops a year, they can supply supermarkets with a steady stream of fresh sweet potatoes all year round. The next step is to negotiate with supermarkets to bring "Dawn Sweet Potatoes" onto their shelves, truly letting the "Dawn" shine.

　　Dawn Sweet Potatoes

　　Shuguang Sweet Potato Industry Association, Guanqiao Town, Nan’an City

　　10374727

　　Fresh Sweet Potatoes