Qidong Crisp Jujube

Qidong Crisp Jujube

Qidong Crisp Jujube is a protected geographical indication product.

　　The Crisp Jujube is a new high-end fresh jujube variety from southern China, cultivated by Qidong County Xinfeng Fruit Industry Co., Ltd. using a 35-year-old local "sugar jujube" tree. This variety matures around the Mid-Autumn Festival, hence the name "Mid-Autumn Crisp Jujube." It not only rewrites the history of the absence of high-end fresh jujube varieties in southern China but also fills the domestic market gap for fresh jujubes around the Mid-Autumn Festival. In September 2005, the variety successfully passed provincial-level evaluation and was included in the key promotion projects of the National Spark Program; in 2007, it was listed among the key promoted projects of the National Spark Program and has obtained the National Pollution-Free Agricultural Product Origin Certification and Green Food Certification.

　　The Mid-Autumn Crisp Jujube is a new variety recently selected from local sugar jujubes. The plants are relatively open, and the fruits are oval or oblong. During the observation period, the maximum fruit weight reached 25.7 grams, with an average single fruit weight of 13.2 grams and an average fruit shape index of 1.21. The edible rate is 97.1%, and the soluble solids content is 43.7%. The leaves are relatively large, broad ovate, with blunt tips, and a greener leaf color. Leaf length ranges from 6.4 to 7.8 cm, and width from 3.6 to 4.2 cm. Young trees have well-developed thorns, 1.2 to 2.7 cm long, while the jujube fruiting branches are slender, densely flowered, and produce a large number of flowers. Each leaf node can bear up to 10 fruits, and each fruiting branch can yield up to 35 fruits.

　　The Mid-Autumn Crisp Jujube begins to sprout in late March in Qidong County, unfolds leaves in mid-to-late April, starts initial flowering in early May, reaches full bloom in mid-May, and has a flowering period of about 40 days. The fruit growth period lasts 90 to 100 days, with full ripening occurring in mid-to-late September, and leaf fall beginning in mid-November.

　　To better enhance the visibility of Qidong’s signature agricultural product—the Crisp Jujube—and increase farmers’ income, the Qidong County Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau actively leveraged its functional advantages. In line with the requirements of the county Party committee and government, it applied for the Crisp Jujube to be designated as a national geographical indication protected product. For this purpose, the bureau established the Qidong Crisp Jujube Geographical Indication Protected Product Office. Strictly following the "Qidong Crisp Jujube High-Quality and High-Yield Cultivation Technical Regulations" and the "Qidong Crisp Jujube Quality Standard" formulated by the government, it provided technical training and service supervision to jujube farmers and processing enterprises at every stage of planting, processing, and sales. This ensured the superior quality of Qidong Crisp Jujubes and strived to build the region into the "Jujube Capital of Southern China."

　　In late November, the Hunan Provincial Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision organized experts to visit the Qidong Crisp Jujube planting base in Fengshiyan Town, inspected the variety and growth conditions, and held an evaluation meeting. Hu Aiguo, deputy researcher of the Qidong County Government, delivered the "Application Statement Report for the Protection of Qidong Crisp Jujube as a Geographical Indication Product." The expert group concluded that Qidong County enjoys a moist climate and fertile land, suitable for the growth and development of Qidong Crisp Jujubes. As a traditional production area for jujube cultivation in southern China, it boasts high-level cultivation techniques and a long history. The cultivated Qidong Crisp Jujubes are of high quality and grade, representing a rare variety in southern China that is worthy of vigorous promotion and inclusion in the national geographical indication product protection.

　　Qidong Crisp Jujube

　　The current administrative region of Qidong County, Hunan Province

　　"Letter of Proposal on Delimiting the Origin Area of 'Qidong Crisp Jujube' from Qidong County People's Government," Qizheng Letter [2012] No. 224

　　Enterprise Standard of Qidong County Xinfeng Fruit Industry Co., Ltd.: Q/CHXF0001S-2012 "Qidong Crisp Jujube"