Lulong Sweet Potatoes

Lulong Sweet Potatoes

　　Lulong is one of the major sweet potato-producing regions in China and is known as the “Sweet Potato County” and “Starch Township.” The annual planting area exceeds 340,000 mu, with a total yield of 650 million kilograms and over 100 million kilograms of starch processed. To date, it has developed chemical product lines primarily featuring lactic acid and sodium citrate, as well as the “Yiqi” brand series.

　　 Lulong County is under the jurisdiction of Qinhuangdao City in Hebei Province and is located in the northeast of the province. This typical agricultural county, with over a hundred years of sweet potato cultivation history, has made sweet potatoes its primary agricultural crop and has long enjoyed the reputation of being the “Hometown of Sweet Potatoes in China.”

　　　　As the renowned “Hometown of Sweet Potatoes in China,” Lulong County has adhered to the strategy of “consolidating traditional advantages, cultivating emerging strengths, extending the industrial chain, and expanding development opportunities.” It has focused on resource-based project development and actively attracted investment. A number of large-scale processing enterprises, such as Guangyou Potato Industry and Xinmatengxiang, have successively set up operations here. To date, there are 42 key sweet potato processing enterprises, and the variety of sweet potato products has expanded to over 10 types, including refined starch, vermicelli, and sweet potato crisps, with an annual production of over 60,000 tons.

　　　Sweet potato cultivation in Lulong County has a history of over 100 years. Thanks to suitable soil and climate conditions—especially driven by industrialized operations—sweet potatoes have become the county’s top crop. In 2002, the planting area reached 340,000 mu, accounting for more than half of the county’s total cultivated land. In 1996, Lulong County was designated by the state as the “Hometown of Sweet Potatoes in China,” and in 1997, it was recognized by Hebei Province as an “Advanced County in Developing Characteristic Industries.” In 1998, it was listed by the provincial Party committee and government as one of the first counties for agricultural industrialization construction and included among the province’s 22 key industrialization projects. In October of the same year, CCTV aired a special report on the industrialization of sweet potatoes in Lulong. Focusing on the development of sweet potato industrial bases, the county has continuously introduced new and superior varieties and vigorously promoted advanced and practical yield-increasing techniques such as small arch-shade (plastic film) covering and non-toxic cultivation, guiding farmers to boost per-unit yield and overall production. In 2002, the county’s total sweet potato output exceeded 650 million kilograms. The pace of constructing leading processing enterprises has also accelerated. In 2002, there were 49 sweet potato processing enterprises in the county, with a processing capacity of 100,000 tons. The “Yiqi” brand sweet potato products produced in Lulong County have won numerous awards, being rated as “High-Quality Agricultural Products of Hebei Province” six times in a row and as “Traditional Branded Products at the 1999 Beijing International Agricultural Expo” in 1999. The market share of these products continues to grow. Currently, sweet potato products are sold in over 20 provinces and regions across the country and exported to countries such as South Korea, the United States, and Canada. The sweet potato industry has become a pillar industry for the county’s economy and for enriching its people. The per capita income from the sweet potato industry accounts for about 40% of the annual per capita income of the county’s farmers.

　　　　Lulong County has also made efforts to implement a brand strategy and cultivate famous-brand products. In June 2004, the geographical indication protection for “Lulong Vermicelli” passed expert review. In August 2005, the national mandatory standard for the Geographical Indication Protected Product – Lulong Vermicelli was approved, becoming the first national standard for sweet potato vermicelli. Eighteen enterprises invested nearly 20 million yuan to upgrade their hardware and software facilities in accordance with market access requirements. Ten enterprises, including Guangyou Potato Industry and Shibalifood Co., Ltd., basically met market access standards. The county has actively guided and supported 17 enterprises to register 26 trademarks for various sweet potato products, striving to create market-renowned brands. In September 2006, “Guangyou Vermicelli” was rated as a China Famous Brand by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and as a Consumer Trusted Product by the Provincial Consumers Association. The “Shibalifood” vermicelli trademark was named a Provincial Famous Trademark, and its product was rated as a Consumer Trusted Product at the 7th Provincial level. “Junyi” vermicelli was consecutively rated as an Excellent Agricultural Product at the 9th and 10th Agricultural Product Expos in Langfang, China. Brands such as “Shibalifood,” “Laogeda,” and “Junyi” cover the markets of Northeast and North China.