Apples from the 223rd Regiment

Apples from the 223rd Regiment

　　The 223rd Regiment of the Second Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps is located at the southern foothills of the Tianshan Mountain range, in the northwestern part of the Yanqi Basin, in Hamuhuti Town, Hejing County. Hamuhuti, in Mongolian, means “a place covered with long alkali grass.” The regiment’s 14 companies are distributed along the Kaidu River (known as the Tongtian River in Journey to the West). The apple planting base is located on the northern edge of the alluvial fan at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, facing south with a northern exposure. It is sheltered from the wind, bathed in sunlight, and features sandy soil with strong permeability, low water tables, and light salinity. The microclimate here is quite distinct—with cold winters, hot summers, warm springs, cool autumns, clearly defined seasons, abundant sunshine, rich heat, and large diurnal temperature variations. The area uses irrigation water from the Tianshan snowmelt and adopts pollution-free farming practices, creating an ideal natural environment for the growth of Fuji apples. The resulting apples are brightly colored, delicious, thin-skinned, crisp-fleshed, well-balanced in sweetness and acidity, fragrant, and of excellent quality. They are also highly resistant to storage and transport. These apples have won multiple awards at fruit expos and were certified as organic produce in 2006, along with receiving the Geographical Indication certification for 223rd Regiment apples.

　　Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps

　　Geographical Scope

　　The apple production area of the 223rd Regiment is located in the alluvial fan plain region at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, with the ten-thousand-mu apple base established at the terminal edge of the alluvial fan. Facing south with a northern exposure, it is sheltered from the wind and bathed in sunlight, with sandy soil that has strong permeability, low water tables, and light salinity. The long sunshine duration and large diurnal temperature differences are conducive to sugar accumulation, providing ideal natural conditions for developing horticulture with apples as the leading product. The 223rd Regiment is situated in Hejing County within the northwestern part of the Yanqi Basin. Its geographical coordinates are longitude 86°27′54″ to 86°45′05″ and latitude 42°13′22″ to 42°28′48″. The production area features a temperate continental arid climate with distinct seasons—hot summers, cold winters, warm springs, and cool autumns. The climate is characterized by dryness, low rainfall, abundant sunshine, and a frost-free period of up to 197 days, maintaining a generally mild climate throughout the year. The protected geographical area for 223rd Regiment apples includes the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Garden Companies. The total apple planting area is 666.67 hectares, with an annual fresh fruit yield of 20,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Features: The fruit is flat-round or nearly round, with uniform size. The skin is smooth, deep red, glossy, rust-free, with abundant cuticle and frost, few lenticels, and relatively thick skin. The core is relatively large, centrally located, and inverted-oval shaped, with the seed area showing transparent sugar accumulation. The flesh is light yellow, fine-textured, crisp, juicy, well-balanced in sweetness and acidity, rich in flavor, and offers a very good taste. (2) Internal Quality Indicators: At harvest, 223rd Regiment apples have a total sugar content of 12.3%–15.8%, firmness of 8.6%–10.89 N/cm², and titratable acid of 0.2%–0.4%. (3) Product Quality and Safety Standards: The production and processing of 223rd Regiment apples strictly follow the quality system NY/T 844-2004 for Temperate Fruit under Green Food standards, and the technical regulations NY/T 441-2001 for Apple Production. The production environment meets the standards of NY/T 391-2000 for Production Environment Conditions. Irrigation water quality complies with GB5O84－92 standards. Product quality aligns with NY/T 428-2000 Food Standards. Inputs strictly adhere to NY/T 393-2000 Guidelines for Pesticide Use in Green Food and NY/T 394-2000 Guidelines for Fertilizer Use in Green Food.