Huocheng Red Globe Grapes

Huocheng Red Globe Grapes

Huocheng Red Globe Grapes are a product with geographical indication status.

　　Xinjiang is internationally renowned as a land of fruits and melons, and is one of the world's six major fruit production belts. Among all its specialty fruits, grapes are one of the most historically cultivated and representative fruits in Xinjiang. Known nationwide and internationally for their high sugar content, sweet taste, vibrant color, rich nutrition, excellent quality, and abundant variety resources, Xinjiang grapes...

　　Huocheng County is one of the main producing areas of Red Globe grapes in Xinjiang. In 2000, the Mohur Ranch in the county was named the “Hometown of China’s Red Globe Grapes” by the National Ministry of Agriculture, becoming the first specialized township for Red Globe grapes in Xinjiang. In 2002, it obtained the qualification for pollution-free agricultural products in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and in 2009, it was certified as an export base. Currently, the county’s grape planting area has reached over 70,000 mu, forming the largest contiguous Red Globe grape planting region in the country. The grape industry has become one of the leading sectors for increasing farmers’ income and prosperity.

　　Huocheng County is bordered by the Tianshan Mountains to the north and the Ili River to the south. The terrain is flat, with mild and moist winters and springs, and dry and hot summers. With 2,700–3,000 hours of sunshine annually, the region enjoys abundant light and heat resources, dry air, and large diurnal temperature variations. The natural conditions in the plains are very similar to those of California in the United States, making it a rare and ideal area for cultivating Red Globe grapes.

　　Huocheng County has a long history of grape cultivation, with major varieties including Thompson Seedless, Kyoho, Bailigan, Red Grape, and Black Grape. In the 1990s, Huocheng County introduced Red Globe grapes from the United States. These grapes not only had a sugar content 2.4% higher than that of the original American variety, but also boasted a pure taste, vibrant color, firm flesh, thick skin, and good storability and transportability. Exhibiting strong market appeal, they quickly gained popularity and were widely adopted across the county.

　　The development of Red Globe grapes in Huocheng County went through a rather challenging process. Starting in 1990, some farmers spontaneously began experimenting with growing Red Globe grapes, but due to inadequate cultivation techniques, limited market demand, scattered and isolated efforts, the industry failed to gain momentum. In 1998, Li Baoshan, the village committee director of Er Village in Mohur Ranch, led five farmers in boldly planting 80 mu of Red Globe grapes on their contracted land. Two years later, the survival rate of the grapes reached 98%, and once the vines bore fruit, they generated good economic returns. Following the successful trial planting, more than 120 farmers in the village soon planted over 2,000 mu of grapes. At the same time, Huocheng County rapidly developed several vineyards, including Keke Dala, Yuancong, Jinshan, Jianzhong, and Northwest Pearl. In 2003, 1,300 mu of grapes in Er Village of Mohur Ranch entered their peak production period, but when harvest season arrived, merchants refused to purchase the grapes. The reason was that growers had focused solely on yield while completely neglecting grape quality, resulting in poor overall grape quality. As a result, piles of grapes rotted in the fields, seriously dampening farmers’ enthusiasm for grape cultivation and prompting many to uproot their vines and switch to other crops. To support the fledgling grape industry, relevant departments in Huocheng County invited grape cultivation experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences to provide timely technical training to farmers, teaching them cultivation techniques and management essentials and jointly addressing various challenges in production. Mohur Ranch also implemented a series of preferential policies, such as waiving the “Three Deductions and Five Levies,” prioritizing irrigation, and offering grape seedlings on credit. It also coordinated solutions for loans and fruit sales to foster the growth of the grape industry.

　　To develop the grape industry into a leading sector for increasing the income and prosperity of farmers and herders, under the guidance of the Huocheng County forestry, science and technology, supply and marketing, and industrial-commercial departments, Mohur Ranch established the “Western Dragon Pearl” Grape Professional Cooperative in September 2008. The cooperative organized scattered farmers to engage in standardized production and regulated management. Under the guidance and support of government departments and the management of the industry association, fruit growers voluntarily and strictly followed pollution-free production technical procedures. As a result, the produced fruits featured uniform berry size, good shape, vibrant colors, and an even sweeter taste—marking a significant improvement in grape quality. Additionally, the cooperative issued unified trademarks to growers for branded grape sales and marked each package with the grower’s identification number, enabling traceability in case of issues. This move represented a substantial step toward a brand strategy for Mohur Ranch’s grapes. In accordance with standardized requirements, the cooperative managed technology, branding, packaging, and sales uniformly. The reputation of “Western Dragon Pearl” grapes grew steadily, and the income of fruit growers improved significantly. By 2013, the cooperative sold 30,000 tons of grapes to external markets annually, accounting for 70% of the county’s total Red Globe grape output. The cooperative also built a 5,000-ton cold storage facility for preserving grapes, enabling off-season sales and increased profits. In 2012, “Western Dragon Pearl” Red Globe grapes were exported to coastal markets such as Guangdong, as well as to countries including Myanmar, Vietnam, and Chile. The “Western Dragon Pearl” Professional Cooperative was honored as one of the top 50 cooperatives in China.

　　The Huocheng County Forestry Bureau and Science and Technology Bureau jointly formulated the “Huocheng County Red Globe Grape Cultivation Technical Regulations,” comprehensively promoting techniques such as branch and cluster thinning for yield control, flower and fruit thinning, fruit bagging for color enhancement, and rational fertilization for sugar increase. The application of these techniques raised the commercial fruit rate of Red Globe grapes from 60% to over 90%, while ensuring that the entire grape production process was “standard-compliant.”

　　On September 16, 2012, Mohur Ranch hosted its first Grape Festival, showcasing the achievements of its fruit industry, primarily focused on grapes, over the years. At the same time, the ranch seized the opportunity to launch leisure and sightseeing agricultural tourism, attracting visitors from near and far.

　　Currently, the Huocheng Mohur Western Dragon Pearl Grapes have been awarded the title of National Geographical Indication Agricultural Product, and Huocheng Red Globe Grapes are set to enter the vast national market.

　　Author: Chen Youming