Yanliang Jujube

Yanliang Jujube

Yanliang jujube is a product with a geographical indication.

　　Yanliang jujube is both ancient and modern. It is ancient because cultivation in the region dates back 2,300 years (according to the *Yanliang District Annals*), and thousand-year-old trees still exist today. It is modern because the district now has over 20,000 mu of jujube orchards.

　　Yanliang jujube matures in late September and is classified as a mid-to-late ripening variety. Known for its large size, thin skin, thick flesh, and sweet taste, it is highly prized and makes an excellent gift for family and friends during holidays and festivals. Years of trials have shown that this variety is well-suited for development as a premium dried jujube in eastern Guanzhong, Shaanxi. The average fruit weight is 9.38g, with an edible rate of 96%. Fresh jujubes contain 21.42% soluble total sugar, 3.886mg/g of Vitamin C, and a drying rate of 47%, yielding dried jujubes of excellent quality that can withstand 3–5 days of cloudy, rainy weather. In 2008, "Yanliang Jujube" was honored with the title of National Geographical Indication Agricultural Product.

　　Geographic Scope

　　Yanliang District is located in the central part of the Guanzhong Plain, approximately 70 kilometers from downtown Xi'an. The terrain is higher in the north and lower in the south, with geographic coordinates between 109°08′54″–109°25′37″ east longitude and 34°35′00″–34°44′37″ north latitude. The average elevation ranges from 351.7 to 483.2 meters. It borders Weinan City to the east, Sanyuan County to the west, Fuping County to the north, and Lintong District to the south. The Shichuan River and Qing River flow through the district, while the Hongjing shrubland stretches across the northern part. The production area of Yanliang jujube specifically includes villages such as Dongding Village, Beifeng Village, and Kang Village in Guanshan Town; Renzhang Village, Gouwang Village, and Paozhang Village in Wutun Town; and Hongjing Village and Podi Village in Zhenxing Subdistrict. The total production area spans 1,000 hectares, with an annual output of 18,000 tons.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic-Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: The jujube production base is traversed by the Shichuan River. The soil types mainly consist of brown alluvial soil in the river valley and loess tableland soil in the upland areas. From the river center outward, the soils are regularly distributed as silt soil, sandy loam, loess loam, and loessial soil.

　　(2) Hydrology: The Shichuan River is dry year-round, but the area has abundant groundwater resources with clean, unpolluted water quality, providing favorable irrigation conditions for Yanliang jujube production.

　　(3) Climate: Yanliang District has a warm temperate, semi-humid monsoon climate with distinct seasons—cold and warm, dry and wet. The annual total solar radiation is 111.6 kcal/cm², the average annual sunshine duration is 2,026.8 hours, the mean annual temperature is 13.6°C, the accumulated temperature above 10°C is 4,449°C, the average annual precipitation is 548.8 mm, and the frost-free period lasts 215 days.

　　(4) Humanistic-Historical Factors: Also known as "Gong Jujube" (Tribute Jujube), Yanliang jujube is a renowned local dried variety. The cultivation of jujube trees in Yanliang dates back to the Ming and Song dynasties. Legend has it that during the early Ming Dynasty, when a famine struck Guanzhong, locals survived on jujubes. In response, the Ming prime minister issued an edict to widely plant jujube trees. To honor the prime minister’s concern for the people, locals named the jujube "Xiang Jujube" ("Xiang" meaning "prime minister"). Over time, to distinguish it from Shanxi’s Xiang jujube, it became known as "Yanliang Jujube." Ancient jujube tree clusters over 200 years old still thrive in the Shichuan River basin, including in Yanliang (Wutun, Kangqiao) and Lintong (Xiangqiao). Yanliang jujube is a unique, high-sugar, high-quality variety suitable for both fresh and dried consumption. It won the Yangling Agricultural Expo’s Houji Gold Medal in 1995, was named Shaanxi’s Premium Dried Variety in 1999, and passed the Shaanxi Provincial Tree Variety Approval Committee’s certification in 2001.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Site Selection: Orchards should be established in pollution-free environments with abundant water sources, no major industrial or mining pollution, and convenient transportation. The site must meet the environmental requirements for pollution-free fruit production (NY5013-2006).

　　(2) Variety Selection: Choose robust grafted seedlings, 1.0–1.2 meters tall, with a ground diameter of 0.8–1 cm or more, well-developed root systems (including at least six lateral roots ≥3 mm and abundant fine roots), true-to-type varieties, and strong disease resistance.

　　(3) Production Process Management:

　　① Planting: Spring planting occurs in mid-to-late March; autumn planting takes place from mid-October to mid-November after leaf fall. Dig planting holes 60 cm deep and wide.

　　② Soil Management: Fertilization in jujube orchards prioritizes organic fertilizer, supplemented by chemical fertilizer. All fertilizers used must not harm the orchard environment or fruit quality and must comply with NY/T394-2000 Sections 3.4–3.5.

　　In the jujube tree’s first year after survival, apply 50g of urea per tree in a pit under the canopy. In subsequent years, apply 15–20 kg of farmyard manure, 0.5 kg of calcium superphosphate, and 0.2–0.3 kg of urea per tree, divided into three applications.

　　③ Water Management: During the first year, water drought-stressed seedlings promptly and implement moisture-retention measures to keep the orchard soil moist. Key irrigation periods thereafter include pre-sprouting, rapid shoot growth, flowering, and fruit development stages. Irrigation water must meet national standards.

　　④ Pruning and Training: Training: The suitable tree form is an open-center, layered system, typically with 6–9 main branches in 2–3 layers. The first layer has 3 branches, the second 2–3, and the third 1–2, with 80 cm between the first and second layers and 100 cm between the second and third. Each main branch has 2–3 lateral branches.

　　Pruning: Combine summer and winter pruning. Key measures include bud removal, shoot pinching, branch spreading and propping, scoring, heading back, renewal cutting, thinning, and cultivating/updating fruiting branches. Three methods update fruiting branches: 1) using new sprouts near aging branches; 2) heavy heading cuts to stimulate strong new shoots from basal buds; 3) utilizing sprouts at the base of aging branches.

　　⑤ Flower and Fruit Preservation: First, girdling (for trunks ≥5 cm) or ring barking (for <5 cm). Second, spray water, gibberellic acid (GA), or boric acid during flowering.

　　⑥ Integrated Pest and Disease Management: Pesticide use strictly follows GB4285-89 regulations.

　　Spray 75% phoxim (1,000x dilution) during larval second instar (when most pests are present) to control jujube inchworms; after larvae ascend trees, use 50% dichlorvos (800x) or pyrethroid pesticides (2,000–3,000x) for jujube moths; from mid-June to August, apply 50% fenitrothion (1,000x) or pyrethroids (2,000–3,000x) against peach fruit moths.

　　(4) Post-Harvest Regulations: After harvest, promptly remove and destroy or bury diseased, pest-infested, or dead branches to maintain a pollution-free environment.

　　(5) Production Record Requirements: The entire Yanliang jujube production process is documented by professional cooperatives, with unified farming practices, technical guidance, and records preserved for inspection.

　　Typical Quality Characteristics and Product Safety Standards

　　Typical quality characteristics and product safety regulations of the product

　　(1) External sensory characteristics: Yanliang Xiang dates have thick flesh, small pits, thin skins, red color, and an oblate shape. The average fruit weighs 9.38g, with a fruit shape index of 1.25. The pit weighs 0.42g, is 1.86cm long, and 0.75cm wide.

　　The fruit is oval-shaped, with an individual weight of 9.38g, a fruit shape index of 1.25, a pit weight of 0.42g, a pit length of 1.86cm, and a width of 0.75cm.

　　(2) Internal quality indicators: The edible rate of the fruit is 96%. It has a sweet taste with a slight acidity. Fresh dates contain 64% moisture, 27% soluble solids, 16.1% total soluble sugar, and 204mg/100Fw of Vitamin C, with 0.61% organic acid. When dried (at 23% moisture), they contain 29.2% total soluble sugar, 0.31% organic acid, and have a drying rate of 46%. They are suitable for both fresh consumption and drying. After drying, they have a glossy appearance, plump and elastic fruit shape.

　　(3) Safety requirements: Yanliang Xiang dates comply with the hygiene standards outlined in the "Pollution-Free Food – Deciduous Stone Fruits" (NY5112-2005).

　　Packaging and labeling regulations

　　(1) Packaging: Strictly follow GB5835-86 "National Standard." Packaging materials (cardboard boxes, dividers, mesh bags, etc.), storage facilities, and transport vehicles must be clean, non-toxic, and free from any off-odors.

　　(2) Labeling: The labeling on the inside and outside of Yanliang Xiang date packages must be completely consistent. The outer package should have a tag or printed label indicating “Yanliang Xiang Dates,” along with grade, net weight, origin, packaging date, packer’s name or code, and a corresponding card with the same information must be placed inside the package.

　　(3) Storage and transportation: The storage and transportation of Yanliang Xiang dates shall comply with the provisions of the "Green Food Storage and Transportation Guidelines" (NY/T1056-2006).