Jianshi Kiwifruit

Jianshi Kiwifruit

Jianshi Kiwifruit is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　   Jianshi County in Hubei Province has extremely abundant wild kiwifruit resources, with wild kiwifruit plants—some decades or even hundreds of years old—found everywhere. According to the *Jianshi County Annals*, in 1980, a survey conducted by the county’s Specialty Products Bureau and Light Industry Bureau found that the area of wild kiwifruit in Jianshi County covered more than 10,000 acres, with an annual yield of about 1,500 tons. The fruit came in 10 varieties of two types—hairy and hairless—with flesh colors including light red, emerald green, and light yellow. There were also individual plants yielding up to 300 kilograms and individual fruits weighing as much as 156 grams. In 1982, the Hubei Provincial Light Industry Bureau allocated a special fund of 150,000 yuan to introduce improved varieties such as “Hayward,” “Jinkui,” and “Miliang No. 1,” and established the Chinese Kiwifruit Research Institute to carry out research on domestication from wild growth and variety introduction. In 1983, the county government set up a Chinese Kiwifruit Production Leadership Group. By 1984, a total of 600,000 kiwifruit plants had been planted across the county. In 1985, the “Ejian No. 1” variety cultivated in the county was recommended by the Hubei Provincial Science and Technology Commission and the Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences as one of six superior varieties for province-wide promotion.

　　   Kiwifruit has rich, juicy flesh with a fragrant, delicious taste and a pleasant sweet-and-sour flavor. It is also highly resistant to storage. Freshly harvested kiwifruit can be kept at room temperature for up to a month without spoiling, and under low-temperature conditions, it can remain fresh for over five or six months. In addition to being eaten fresh, kiwifruit can be processed into juice, jam, wine, canned fruit in syrup, dried fruit, and preserved fruit. These products come in various appealing colors—yellow, brown, or orange—and offer delicious flavors and nutritional value comparable to fresh kiwifruit. As a result, they are popular health foods for sailors, pilots, high-altitude workers, and those working in hot environments. Kiwifruit juice has even become the preferred health drink for national athletes, as well as a nourishing fruit for the elderly, children, and those in poor health. In addition to being rich in vitamin C, A, E, potassium, magnesium, and dietary fiber, kiwifruit also contains nutrients less commonly found in other fruits—such as folic acid, beta-carotene, calcium, lutein, amino acids, and natural inositol. Its calcium content is 2.6 times that of grapefruit, 17 times that of apples, and 4 times that of bananas, while its vitamin C content is twice that of oranges. Therefore, its nutritional value far surpasses that of other fruits. The high vitamin C content in kiwifruit helps strengthen the immune system, promotes wound healing and iron absorption. The fruit is also rich in inositol and amino acids, which can help prevent depression and replenish nutrients consumed by the brain. Its ideal balance of low sodium and high potassium helps restore energy lost from staying up late or working overtime.

　　   Geographical Scope

　　   The suitable planting area for Jianshi Kiwifruit is located at the confluence of the Qingjiang River and the Yesanhe River. It borders the Yesanhe River to the east, Huangheqiao to the west, the Qingjiang River to the south, and the Huaping-Zhoutang Highway to the north, at an altitude of 600–1,200 meters. The geographical scope of Jianshi Kiwifruit spans from 109°32′ to 110°12′ east longitude and 30°06′ to 30°54′ north latitude, covering a north-south length of 89 kilometers and an east-west width of 64.5 kilometers, with a total area of 2,666 square kilometers. It involves 10 townships in Jianshi County, including Changliang, Sanli, Hongyan, Maotian, Huaping, and Guandian. The registered geographical indication area covers 8,000 acres, with a production of 8,000 tons. The planting areas are far from major transportation routes and free from pollution sources such as industrial and mining enterprises, hospitals, and garbage disposal sites. All human and livestock waste is treated in biogas digesters before discharge. The main crops grown in these areas are corn and potatoes, with minimal pesticide use and significant application of organic fertilizer. Due to the low level of industrial activity, the entire county is free from pollution by industrial waste gases, residues, and wastewater. From 1996 to 1998, the Ministry of Agriculture commissioned the Wuhan Dongxihu Environmental Monitoring Station to conduct environmental monitoring in areas such as Hongyan and Huaping for three consecutive years. The results confirmed that the ecological environment of the county is suitable for the growth of Jianshi Kiwifruit. Internationally renowned kiwifruit expert Yang Shengmou, after inspecting the natural conditions of the county, concluded that the region shares a similar climate to New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty and is the central area where both Chinese kiwifruit and delicious kiwifruit are distributed in their natural habitats. The natural ecological conditions here are uniquely favorable for the cultivation of kiwifruit.