Gaoling Winter Jujube

Gaoling Winter Jujube

　　The fresh jujube industry in Gaoling County began in the early 1990s. Around 1992, Li jujube (a type of early-maturing jujube) was introduced from Yuncheng and Yongji in Shanxi Province for trial planting and promotion. Driven by the cultivation of Li jujube, other varieties were subsequently introduced, gradually expanding the area and diversifying the range of fresh jujube cultivars. Currently, the county has planted over 30,000 mu (approximately 2,000 hectares) of fresh jujubes, with more than ten varieties including Li jujube, Daxue jujube, winter jujube, Shuanghong jujube, Qiyue xian (July Fresh), and Jingwei Fresh Jujube. Qiyue xian and Jingwei Fresh Jujube can be harvested as early as mid-August, followed by Li jujube, winter jujube, and Shuanghong jujube. Snow jujube (Xue jujube) matures around mid-November, making the fresh jujube supply period last from mid-August to late November. Thanks to its favorable climate, soil, and other natural conditions, the fresh jujubes produced in Gaoling County are known for their delicious taste, large size, high sugar content, and smooth skin. Introduced varieties such as Li jujube, winter jujube, and Shuanghong jujube have shown significant advantages over their places of origin in terms of sugar content, vitamin C levels, single fruit weight, and yield, making them highly popular among consumers. Over more than a decade of development, Gaoling County has gradually established a set of dwarfing and dense-planting production techniques suited to the local natural conditions and farming practices. A comprehensive set of technical expertise has also been developed, covering planting, pruning, fertilization, irrigation, and pest and disease control. The production strictly follows pollution-free food standards, which not only increases both per-unit yield and quality but also meets the market's growing demand for safe fruit products. As the industry continues to expand in both area and management techniques, research has also achieved remarkable results. Following the successful introduction and promotion of Li jujube and winter jujube, two new varieties—Jingwei Fresh Jujube and Jingwei Daxue Jujube—developed by the Jingwei Jujube Research Institute were launched to market success. Preliminary trials on the early maturation and double-harvest-in-one-season techniques for facility-grown Jingwei Fresh Jujube have shown promise and are currently in the refinement stage. In November 2003, the Gaoling County Forestry and Fruit Development Co., Ltd. sent “Qinbao” winter jujube scions into space aboard a rocket, marking the first attempt at space breeding of jujube trees in China. This led to the successful cultivation of China’s first batch of “space jujubes.” Currently, Gaoling County produces 24,000 tons of fresh jujubes annually, with markets spanning 19 provinces and cities across the country. The “Gaoling Li Jujube” brand is gradually gaining recognition.

　　Source: Xi’an Agricultural Information Network