Wafangdian Xiaoguoguang Apples

Wafangdian Xiaoguoguang Apples

Wafangdian Xiaoguoguang Apples are a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Distinctive Qualities

　　　　Wafangdian Xiaoguoguang apples are small in size, with a red-and-green exterior. They are highly resistant to storage, have a delicate texture, and offer a sweet-and-sour flavor. All are grown using the bagging technique, ensuring no pesticide contamination.

　　Wafangdian is situated in the central-western part of the Liaodong Peninsula, between longitude 121°13′—122°16′ and latitude 39°20′—40°7′, and features a temperate continental monsoon climate. The area receives an average annual rainfall of 580–750 mm, has a frost-free period of 165–185 days, enjoys 2600–2900 hours of sunshine annually, and maintains an average annual temperature of 8.3°C–10.3°C, with a diurnal temperature variation of around 10°C during September–October. The winters are not extremely cold, and the summers are not overly hot, with abundant sunlight and moderate rainfall—ideal conditions for crop growth. The region is well-suited for cultivating a variety of fruit trees such as apples, cherries, grapes, and peaches, which are renowned worldwide for their crisp, juicy flesh, delicious taste, and vibrant color. As early as the 1960s, the area was hailed as the “Fruit Capital” and “Apple Base” of southern Liaoning, becoming a globally recognized top fruit production region and a key national fruit export base.

　　Since the reform and opening-up, our city has been designated by the Ministry of Agriculture as one of the “Top Ten National Fruit Export Bases,” a “National Advanced Fruit Production Base,” an “Apple Optimal Production Area in the Bohai Rim Region,” a “National Demonstration Base for Standardized Production of High-Quality Fruits,” a “National Fruit Processing Entrepreneurship Base,” and a “National Fruit Processing Demonstration Base.” It has also been awarded by the National Fruit and Vegetable Expert Committee the titles of “China’s Top Ten County-Level (City) Regions for Pollution-Free Fruit and Vegetable Production,” “China’s Key County (City) for High-Quality Fruit Export Bases,” and “China’s Top 20 County (City) for Apple Production.” In 2010, it was honored by the Ministry of Agriculture as a “National Apple Standardization Demonstration County.” The city currently has 600,000 mu of orchards, with 40 million fruit trees planted, including 500,000 mu of bearing orchards. Under normal circumstances, annual fruit output reaches around 650,000 tons, including 400,000 mu of apple orchards with 25 million trees, generating an annual output value of 1.8 billion yuan.

　　Xiaoguoguang apples are primarily concentrated in the Wafangdian region along the Shenda Expressway, Harbin-Dalian Highway, and the Changda Railway. Major towns include Delisi, Songshu, Wanjieling, Xutun, Liguan, Zhaotun, Yongning, and Tucheng. The favorable climatic and soil conditions provide an excellent foundation for apple cultivation there. Historical records indicate that Wafangdian began planting Xiaoguoguang apples as early as the 34th year of the Guangxu reign (1908), initially cultivated along the railway line from Guanzizhan Station to Delisizhan Station on the China-Middle Railway. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Wafangdian’s century-old Xiaoguoguang apples saw further improvements in both planting area and product quality, bringing substantial income to local farmers. Currently, Wafangdian City has 100,000 mu of Xiaoguoguang apple orchards, with 3 million trees, producing 100,000 tons annually—about one-third of the province’s total Xiaoguoguang output. These fruits are not only popular domestically but have also been exported to the Russian Far East for many years.

　　Certified by the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, “Wafangdian Xiaoguoguang Apples” have been awarded China’s National Geographical Indication Certification Trademark.