Qaidam Goji Berries

Qaidam Goji Berries

Qaidam Goji Berries are a protected geographical indication product.

Qaidam Goji Berries are an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　Qinghai goji berries, also known as Chaiqi berries, are mainly produced in the Qaidam Basin. The fresh fruits are crystal-clear, glistening red, and ruby-like in appearance, with large, bright red berries. They are oval-shaped, with few seeds, thick flesh, uniform size, no broken berries, no mold, and no impurities—qualities that stem from the unique plateau continental climate of Qinghai’s Qaidam Basin.

　　Zongjia Town is located in the southeast of Qinghai’s Qaidam Basin. In recent years, following the strategy of adjusting agricultural and livestock industry structure, the town has established goji berry production as its leading specialty industry. In 2010, the town had 59,800 mu of goji berry cultivation area, accounting for 81.8% of its total arable land; 2,540 farming households engaged in goji berry production and business, making up over 90% of the town’s total farming households; goji berry sales revenue reached 325.8 million yuan, accounting for 72% of the town’s total output value; and per capita income was 7,733.71 yuan, a 20% increase from the previous year.

　　Currently, the Nuomuhong Farm in the town has been certified as a provincial-level green agricultural product base, covering a scale of 40,000 mu, or 66.89% of the town’s total goji berry cultivation. The town has established seven goji berry production cooperatives with a total registered capital of 7.2 million yuan, involving more than 1,280 farming households—over 52% of all households involved in goji berry production. These cooperatives provide members with technical guidance on goji berry planting, processing, and pre- and post-production phases; the sale of agricultural supplies for goji berry fields; agricultural machinery services; and pilot programs for standardized goji berry cultivation, among other services. The town implements unified trademark management, and its registered “Qaidam Goji Berries” have won numerous awards for their large size, plump grains, vibrant color, and pollution-free qualities. In addition, the town has also developed 483 large-scale goji berry growers, 26 science and technology demonstration households, and 18 goji berry industry brokers.

　　In 2010, a number of goji berry planting enterprises that entered through investment attraction, such as Daxueshan Industrial Company and Hehua Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Industry Co., Ltd., began to gradually come into production. Currently, the Zongjia area goji berry trading market is also under active preparation.

　　The production area of Qaidam Goji Berries covers the entire administrative region of the Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province (the entire Qaidam Basin).

　　Geographic Scope

　　The geographic protection scope of Qaidam Goji Berries is within the territory of Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province. The geographic coordinates are: between 90°05′–99°45′ east longitude and 35°02′–39°20′ north latitude. It borders Ruo County of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to the west; is adjacent to Aketao Kazakh Autonomous County, Subei Mongolian Autonomous County, and Yumen City—all directly administered units of Gansu Province—to the north; connects to Qilian County of Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture to the northeast; and neighbors Maduo County of Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture to the southeast. The total area spans 286,626.16 square kilometers. The main production areas are Dulan County, Delingha City, Golmud City, and Wulan County of Haixi Prefecture.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External sensory characteristics: should comply with the provisions of Table 1 (not shown); 2. Internal quality indicators: Qaidam Goji Berries are rich in various nutrients. With vitamin C ≥1.0 mg/100g, total sugar ≥20%, and calcium ≥300 mg/kg, they are suitable for fresh consumption. 3. Safety requirements: should comply with the provisions of Table 2 (not shown).