Jinzhou Grapes

Jinzhou Grapes

　　Jinzhou City covers a total land area of 619 square kilometers, with arable land spanning 617,000 mu and fruit orchards covering 297,000 mu, accounting for 48.1% of the arable land, making it one of China’s advanced counties (cities) in economic forestry development.

　　 Since 1985, grape production in Jinzhou has developed rapidly, especially since 1996 when pear prices declined, leading to a rapid and extensive expansion of grape cultivation. In just 2001 and 2002, 15,000 new mu of grapes were planted. Currently, the city has 52,000 mu of grapevines, with 40,000 mu in fruit-bearing stage, yielding approximately 120 million jin annually and generating a total output value of 90 million yuan.

　　 Jinzhou has actively promoted variety structural adjustments. Since the early 1990s, it has introduced early-ripening grape varieties such as Jingya, Jingxiu, Yadumi, Huta 8, and Jipeng. In 1998, the late-ripening Red Globe grape was introduced. In recent years, both early- and late-ripening grapes have seen rapid development. The city now has 4,000 mu of early-ripening grapes, 30,000 mu of mid-ripening grapes, and 18,000 mu of late-ripening grapes, along with over 10 new grape varieties.

　　 All 20 towns in Jinzhou grow grapes, mainly concentrated in Zhoutou, Mayu, Dongzhuosu, Yingli, Dongsi, Donglizhuang, and Zhoujiazhuang. In Zhoutou, Mayu, and Dongzhuosu, Kyoho grapes dominate, forming two major production bases centered around Beibaitan–Mayu and Zhoutou. In Zhoujiazhuang, Dongsi, and Donglizhuang, Red Globe grapes prevail, creating a late-ripening grape base centered on Zhoujiazhuang. Yingli focuses on early-ripening varieties such as Jingxiu and Huta 8, serving as the city’s early-ripening grape base.

　　 Cold storage is an important factor in achieving year-round grape supply. Since the mid-1990s, Jinzhou began cold-storing Kyoho grapes. Today, mechanically refrigerated storage meets high standards—grape clusters remain intact upon release, with no berry drop and a berry integrity rate over 96%. First-harvest grapes can be stored until around New Year’s Day, second-harvest grapes until around Chinese New Year, and Red Globe grapes until March or April of the following year. The city now has 25 specialized grape storage facilities, with an annual storage capacity of 5 million kg.

　　 Jinzhou is actively promoting the industrialized management of grape production. It currently has two leading grape enterprises—the Lümei Premium Fruit Cooperative and Zhoujiazhuang Agricultural Products Co., Ltd.—which have registered the “Lümei” and “Zhoujiazhuang” brands respectively. These companies provide comprehensive pre-production, production, and post-harvest services to fruit farmers. By connecting with buyers or directly signing purchase contracts with external clients and organizing purchases, they help farmers sell their grapes, with an annual sales volume of about 20 million kg. The city also has over 100 grape distribution stations and more than 600 professionals engaged in grape marketing. This extensive sales network ensures a steady flow of Jinzhou grapes to markets in southern China as well as Beijing and Tianjin.

　　 Jinzhou grapes are juicy, delicious, beautifully colored, and high-yielding—making them extremely popular. They’re truly delicious.