Mengzi Small Red Dates

Mengzi Small Red Dates

　　Small red dates are an outstanding local fruit variety from Mengzi County with a long cultivation history. They enjoy a certain reputation both within and outside the province and are deeply loved by consumers. Before the 1990s, they were grown only in home gardens, scattered across the area, with a total planting area of just 1,000 mu. In 1998, the county government stepped up efforts to develop the small red date industry, which subsequently entered a stage of rapid growth. By 2005, the county had 22,600 mu of small red dates planted, with 6,819 mu in production, yielding 2,058 tons and generating an output value of 14.4 million yuan.

The small red dates of Mengzi County are mainly characterized by their sweet, crisp taste and high moisture content, offering excellent quality and strong market competitiveness, with good sales prospects. In September 2005, they won an award for high-quality fruit at the Kunming International Agricultural Expo. Mengzi small red dates ripen and go on the market between July and September each year, with an average market price reaching 8 yuan per kilogram. Merchants from both inside and outside the province flock to purchase them, with many even going directly to the orchards. Products are sold not only in the local market and across the province but are also mainly exported to cities and provinces such as Shanghai, Zhejiang, Sichuan, and the two Guangs (Guangdong and Guangxi).