Cornus officinalis in Xixia

Cornus officinalis in Xixia

Cornus officinalis from Xixia is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Cornus officinalis cultivation in Xixia is mainly concentrated in nine mountainous townships: Taipingzhen Township, Erlangping Township, Shuanglong Town, Junmaha River Township, Miping Town, Shijiehe Township, Sangping Town, Chenyangping Township, and Zhaigen Township. The annual output remains at around 1,600 tons. Historically, Cornus officinalis from Xixia has been famous both at home and abroad for its large bark, bright red color, thick flesh, authenticity, and high content of active ingredients. In 1999 and 2001, it was twice awarded the title of Famous Brand Product at the China International Agricultural Expo. Cornus officinalis has also been designated as an origin-protected variety by the National Quality Supervision and Inspection Administration.

　　Cornus officinalis is an authentic medicinal herb of Xixia County with a long cultivation history. As early as the Song Dynasty, it was praised as “a land of lush forests and spiritual retreats, a hometown of tung trees, lacquer, and Cornus.” Due to its location in the transitional zone between the northern subtropical and warm temperate zones, Xixia enjoys a mild climate, abundant sunlight, moderate rainfall, and distinct seasons. The Cornus produced here features bright red color, thick flesh, large size, softness, oiliness, and strong medicinal aroma. It is also rich in mineral elements, amino acids, various sugars, organic acids, vitamins, and other nutritional and medicinal components. However, Xixia is also a typical mountainous county with weak agricultural infrastructure, slow progress in agricultural industrialization, extensive poverty-stricken mountainous areas, a large impoverished population, and an arduous task of poverty alleviation and prosperity.

　　In recent years, relying on the “company + base + farmer” business model of Wanxi Pharmaceutical, Xixia County has promoted the continuous consolidation and development of Cornus officinalis bases through measures such as policy support, demonstration guidance, and project prioritization, using the construction of Cornus officinalis ecological demonstration zones as a vehicle. Currently, the county’s Cornus officinalis planting area reaches 220,000 mu, with 130,000 mu bearing fruit, yielding 1,800 tons annually. Xixia has been named the “Hometown of Fine, Special, and Economic Forests – Cornus officinalis” by the National Forestry Administration. Cornus officinalis from Xixia has obtained the “National Geographical Indication Protected Product” certification. The 220,000-mu Cornus officinalis base is the first in the province to receive GAP certification and has been recognized as one of the “Top Ten Traditional Chinese Medicine Planting Bases in Henan Province.”