Jiufeng Golden Naisi Plums

Jiufeng Golden Naisi Plums

　　Jiufeng Naisi Plums

　　Jiufeng Town is rich in fruit production, especially famous for its Naisi plums. These plums are known for their sweet, delicious taste and tender flesh that leaves a lasting impression. Visitors to Jiufeng often consider it a great regret if they haven’t tasted the local Naisi plums, while everyone who has tried them can’t stop praising them. The unique summer temperature variations in Jiufeng contribute to the distinctive flavor of its Naisi plums...

　　Naisi plums are a tree plant, a variant of the garden Naisi plum. They have a semi-round canopy, relatively large fruits, yellow-green skin, small pits, and thick flesh. Originally from Fujian, China, they are moisture-, fertilizer-, and water-loving fruit trees.

　　Jiufeng Golden Naisi Plums are produced in Jiufeng Town and Liangjiang Town, Lechang. Jiufeng Town is located in the northern part of Lechang City, Shaoguan, Guangdong Province, covering a total area of 153.3 square kilometers. It lies within a subtropical monsoon climate zone, with altitudes above 1,000 meters and a forest coverage rate of 63.8%. Influenced by the terrain, it features distinct mountainous climatic characteristics, with significant day-night temperature differences in summer and autumn, and an average annual temperature of 18.6°C. Jiufeng Town is truly a land of fruits and is hailed as the “Shangri-La of Northern Guangdong.” The town is abundant in fruit, particularly famous for its Naisi plums, which are known for their sweet, delicious taste and tender flesh that leaves a lasting impression. Visitors to Jiufeng often consider it a great regret if they haven’t tasted the local Naisi plums, while everyone who has tried them can’t stop praising them. The unique summer temperature variations in Jiufeng contribute to the distinctive flavor of its Naisi plums.

　　Jiufeng Town began trial planting of Naisi plums in 1989. Practice has shown that the unique mountain climate of Jiufeng is highly suitable for the growth of Naisi plums. The resulting fruits are large and sweet, making them very popular among consumers. Production grew rapidly, and between 1995 and 1999, the industry was supported under the provincial People's Congress “One Village, One Product” initiative. It has now become the most distinctive flagship agricultural product of Jiufeng, promoting the development of fruit orchards in the local area and surrounding towns, and bringing substantial economic benefits to local farmers.

　　Jiufeng Golden Naisi Plums are bagged plums. Paper bags are placed over the plums during the regular Naisi plum growth period and removed only when harvested more than two months later, allowing the plums to develop into golden ones. Bagging helps solve multiple problems such as fruit cracking due to rain during the ripening period, bird attacks, and pest infestations, thus ensuring yield. The bagged plums turn golden in color, crystal-clear and highly appealing, featuring golden hue, crisp texture, and juicy sweetness. This technique also significantly increases both the yield and value of the fruit. Jiufeng Golden Naisi Plums usually begin ripening successively from late July, becoming an attractive summer fruit for beating the heat.

　　Currently, there are three main enterprises producing Jiufeng Golden Naisi Plums: Lechang Jiufeng Town Lufeng Fruit & Vegetable Professional Cooperative, Lechang Yuebao Agricultural Products Circulation Professional Cooperative, and Lechang Liangjiang Town Lutong Fruit & Vegetable Professional Cooperative. Their product trademarks are “Jiufengshan,” “Yue Zhi Bao,” and “Golden Nai Pear,” respectively.

　　Jiufeng Town currently has over 30,000 acres planted with Naisi plums. The current wholesale market price is about 2 to 2.4 yuan per kilogram. Generally, market transactions will peak in late July.