Gongcheng Persimmon

Gongcheng Persimmon

Gongcheng Persimmon is a geographical indication protected product.

Gongcheng Persimmon is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Gongcheng Persimmon is an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　 Since 1983, Gongcheng County has been developing an integrated three-in-one ecological agriculture model of “breeding – biogas – planting.” After nearly 20 years of exploration and effort, remarkable achievements have been made. The model was praised as the “Gongcheng Model” by the autonomous region and promoted throughout Guangxi. In 2000, it was listed by the Ministry of Agriculture as a “National Ecological Agriculture Demonstration County”; in 1996, it was awarded the title of “China’s Hometown of Persimmon” by the Organizing Committee of the National Campaign for Naming and Promoting China’s Specialty Product Hometowns under the Ministry of Agriculture; in December 2001, it was listed by the Ministry of Science and Technology as a “National Sustainable Development Experimental Zone,” making it the only county in Guangxi to receive this honor. In 2000, the county had a total fruit planting area of 315,000 mu, including 92,000 mu of persimmons, with 74,000 mu in production yielding 71,500 tons. It is the only county in Guangxi to win the award for outstanding individual plants. In 2001, Gongcheng Persimmon was named one of “China’s Famous Fruits.”

　　Persimmon is Gongcheng County’s flagship product. Governments at all levels and relevant departments pay close attention to its cultivation. It is expected that the planned planting target of 100,000 mu of Gongcheng Persimmon will be achieved next year. It is mainly distributed in towns such as Lianhua, Ping’an, and Xiling. Lianhua Town currently has a 10,000-mu pollution-free standardized cultivation base. The success of Gongcheng Persimmon cultivation is largely due to the county’s “three-in-one” ecological agriculture model. The extensive use of organic fertilizers such as biogas slurry and biogas residue significantly reduces pest damage and controls physiological fruit drop. Through years of practice and experience, most fruit farmers have mastered persimmon management techniques, achieving an average yield of about 3,000 kg per mu, with highs of up to 6,000 kg—essentially reaching stable and abundant yields, with economic benefits surpassing those of Shatian pomelo and citrus. In recent years, most Gongcheng Persimmon plantings have expanded onto barren hills and slopes as an economic forest crop. This not only contributes to afforestation and greening but also generates considerable income. Persimmon cultivation in mountainous areas shows strong resilience, producing large, abundant, and visually appealing fruit with a layer of white frost on the skin, which merchants particularly favor, resulting in higher prices. In contrast, persimmons grown on flat land have less frost. The reason lies in the greater diurnal temperature variation and slightly lower average temperatures in the mountains, where slopes facilitate natural airflow and better orchard ventilation. Therefore, the county government encourages farmers to plant Gongcheng Persimmon on slopes with gradients below 25° to help mountain residents escape poverty more quickly.

　　Gongcheng Persimmon, also known as Gongcheng Water Persimmon or dried persimmon, features bright-colored fruit that is sweet and juicy. Besides being eaten fresh, it can be made into dried persimmons, persimmon sections, and persimmon juice; processed into persimmon sugar and persimmon honey; or used as a grain substitute for vinegar and wine production. Persimmon fruits and their processed products also have medicinal benefits—they can treat gastrointestinal issues, stop bleeding and moisturize the intestines, and help lower blood pressure. Gongcheng Persimmon is one of Guangxi’s traditional high-quality export products. It has an attractive shape and vivid color; crisp persimmons are sweet and delicious, frozen persimmons are fragrantly sweet, and dried persimmons are tender and sweet like maltose. Shaped like a full moon, the dried fruit has red, translucent, seedless flesh. Once frosted, it turns white with a red tint, featuring a crispy, soft skin and a sweet, fragrant taste.

　　In 2000, it was honored as one of “China’s Famous Fruits” by the China Fruit Marketing Association. This fruit can be made into dried persimmons shaped like the moon, hence the name “moon persimmon.” In 1996, the Ministry of Agriculture awarded Gongcheng the prestigious title of “China’s Hometown of Persimmon,” the only one in the nation. The current planting area spans 100,400 mu, with seasonal yields that are sweet and fragrant.

　　Certified by the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, “Gongcheng Persimmon” has been awarded China’s National Geographical Indication Certification Trademark.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The geographic indication protection area for Gongcheng Persimmon, an agricultural product, covers the entire administrative region of Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County, specifically between 110°36′41″–111°10′12″ east longitude and 24°36′50″–25°17′15″ north latitude. This includes three towns and six townships: Gongcheng Town, Limu Town, Lianhua Town, Ping’an Township, Xiling Township, Jiahui Township, Sanjiang Township, Guanyin Township, and Longhu Township, encompassing 117 administrative villages. The total area is 2,139.31 square kilometers.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　4.1 External Sensory Characteristics: Gongcheng Persimmon fruits are flat and round, with peel ranging from orange-yellow to orange-red. The skin is thin, smooth, and coated with a powdery bloom, and the fruit is seedless. Red persimmon: the flesh is red, transparent, soft, very juicy, and mildly sweet. Crisp persimmon: the flesh is yellow, crisp in texture, sweet, and aromatic. Dried persimmon: shaped like a full moon, hence the name “moon persimmon,” it features a frosty coating, red and translucent flesh, soft texture, sweetness, and fragrance. 4.2 Internal Quality: Gongcheng Persimmon contains total sugar ≥16.7g/100g; vitamin C ≥19.4mg/100g; calcium ≥4.99mg/100g; phosphorus ≥12.0mg/100g; and crude fiber ≥0.4%. 4.3 Safety Requirements: Gongcheng Persimmon is produced according to pollution-free standardized practices, and the product complies with the NY5421-2004 “Pollution-Free Food Persimmon” standard.