Jiaohé Potatoes

Jiaohé Potatoes

Jiaohé Potatoes are a protected geographical indication product.

Jiaohé Potatoes are a certified geographical indication trademark.

　　Jiaohé Potatoes, a specialty of Baicheng Town in Gaomi City, Shandong Province, are a nationally recognized geographical indication product. They are named after their origin along both banks of the Jiaohé River on the Jiaolai Plain in Shandong Province. The region boasts favorable geographic and climatic conditions, and Baicheng Town is also well known as the “Potato Capital” of the Jiaodong Peninsula. Potato farming is a traditional and advantageous industry in the town with a long history of cultivation, hence the potatoes are of superior quality, characterized by uniform size, pale yellow glossy skin, delicate flesh, and high content of trace elements.

　　　　Gaomi City is located in the central part of the Shandong Peninsula, in the hinterland of the Jiaolai Plain. Its geographical coordinates range from 36°8′44″N to 36°41′N and from 119°26′16″E to 120°0′38″E. The total area is 1,605.55 square kilometers. The climate is pleasant with distinct seasons. Gaomi has a warm temperate continental semi-humid monsoon climate, featuring cold winters and hot summers, with clearly defined seasons. Springs are changeable in temperature; summers are hot and rainy; autumns are clear and pleasant; winters are dry and cold with little snowfall, and northwest winds prevail. From 1986 to 2008, the average annual temperature was 13.2°C, with an average January temperature of -1.4°C and an average July temperature of 26.2°C. The city’s average annual precipitation is 629.9 mm, with a frost-free period of 227 days. Gaomi features four major soil types distributed from south to north: brown soil, cinnamon soil, chao soil, and sandy clay black soil. With an annual precipitation of 539 mm, an average annual temperature of 13.6°C, and 2,352.1 hours of sunshine annually, the region provides ideal conditions for crop growth and is well suited for potato cultivation.

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　　Production Situation

　　　　Baicheng Town is the well-known “Potato Capital” of the Jiaodong Peninsula, where potato farming is a traditional and advantageous industry. The local potatoes are known for their uniform size, pale yellow glossy skin, delicate flesh, and high content of trace elements. In the past, villagers relied on potato farming as a basic means of livelihood, with scattered household cultivation and extensive management practices that failed to achieve economies of scale. Coupled with market factors, potato prices remained low, providing only a subsistence income for local farmers who essentially lived off these “golden eggs.” In the early 21st century, the Gaomi municipal government actively adjusted the agricultural industrial structure and vigorously promoted specialty crops. As a result, the potato planting area in the town expanded rapidly, establishing a standardized green and pollution-free potato production base covering over 60,000 mu, which became a pillar industry for the town’s agricultural economy. Various models such as “company + cooperative + farmer,” “company + base + farmer,” and “cooperative + farmer” were adopted to encourage the formation of specialized farmer cooperatives. Refined management and premium quality quickly drew attention and favor from numerous domestic and international buyers. Experts from Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, and other regions even praised the Jiaohé Potatoes as “the most beautiful and delicious.” The cooperatives also strengthened their market competitiveness and brand awareness through joint development, significantly improving the economic returns of Jiaohé Potatoes. The potatoes are now popular in major cities such as Qingdao and Shanghai, and are also exported to countries including Japan and Singapore.

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　　Geographical Indication Product Protection

　　　　In accordance with the “Regulations on the Protection of Geographical Indication Products,” the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China reviewed and approved the implementation of geographical indication protection for Jiaohé Potatoes starting May 24, 2010 (Announcement No. 52, 2010).

　　Protection Scope

　　　　The protected production area of Jiaohé Potatoes includes the administrative regions of three communities in Baicheng Town, Gaomi City, Shandong Province: Baicheng Community, Lijiaying Community, and Wangwu Community.