Ji’an Schisandra

Ji’an Schisandra

Ji’an Schisandra is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Ji’an Schisandra is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　In July 2008, the Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China (AGI2008-07-00038) announced the approval of the Quality Control Technical Specifications for the Ji’an Schisandra Geographical Indication Agricultural Product. This marked the third Geographical Indication Quality Control Technical Specification for agricultural products in Ji’an City, Jilin Province.

　　The newly certified Ji’an Schisandra as a geographical indication agricultural product stands out among the city’s premium specialty crops. Compared to schisandra from other regions, it features rapid growth, strong disease resistance, large berries, thick and fleshy fruit, oiliness, good gloss, and high purity without mixed colors. It is rich in volatile oils, fats, citric acid, ascorbic acid, malic acid, as well as beneficial components such as vitamins B1, B2, pp, C, carotene, fructose, protein, 17 types of amino acids, and trace elements like calcium, phosphorus, and iron—making it a top-grade schisandra.

　　The geographical protection area for the Ji’an Schisandra Geographical Indication Agricultural Product includes the southern mountainous region of Ji’an City, Jilin Province, along the Yalu River, covering Qingshi Town, Taiwang Town, Maxian Township, and Yulin Town. The geographic coordinates span 125°51′–126°33′ east longitude and 40°53′–41°32′ north latitude. The total production area spans 1,000 hectares, with an annual output of 3,000 tons. The specific boundaries are: east to Team 2 of Qingshi Village in Qingshi Town, south to the Yalu River at Di’gou Village in Yulin Town, west to the boundary between Ying Shui and Donggang in Yulin Town, and north to the dam below Qingshi Village in Qingshi Town.

　　The national Geographical Indication Quality Control Technical Specification for Ji’an Schisandra provides technical support for the standardized cultivation of Ji’an Schisandra and serves as an important basis for preventing and combating counterfeiting and infringement in the future.

　　Geographical Scope

　　The geographical protection area for the Ji’an Schisandra Geographical Indication Agricultural Product includes the southern mountainous region of Ji’an City, Jilin Province, along the Yalu River, covering Qingshi Town, Taiwang Town, Maxian Township, and Yulin Town. The geographic coordinates span 125°51′–126°33′ east longitude and 40°53′–41°32′ north latitude. The total production area spans 1,000 hectares, with an annual output of 3,000 tons. The specific boundaries are: east to Team 2 of Qingshi Village in Qingshi Town, south to the Yalu River at Di’gou Village in Yulin Town, west to the boundary between Ying Shui and Donggang in Yulin Town, and north to the dam below Qingshi Village in Qingshi Town.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: Ji’an is a mountainous city located on the southwestern foothills of the Changbai Mountains, with a general terrain that is higher in the north and lower in the south. The main planting areas for Ji’an’s mountain grapes consist primarily of gray-brown soil and alluvial soil, characterized by deep soil layers and relatively fertile land. The average organic matter content in the soil is 3.97%, total nitrogen 0.156%, total phosphorus 0.105%, total potassium 2.287%, with a soil pH ranging between 5.5 and 6.7.

　　(2) Hydrology: The rivers in Ji’an belong to the Yalu River system. The average annual rainfall in Ji’an’s mountains and rivers (excluding the Yalu River) is 924.2 mm. The city’s total water resources amount to 1.765 billion cubic meters. Calculated at an 80% retention rate, the runoff can be maintained at 1.412 billion cubic meters. The available surface water resources are 870 million cubic meters, while the total available water resources (including groundwater) are 1.124 billion cubic meters.

　　(3) Climate: The schisandra cultivation area in Ji’an falls under a semi-continental maritime monsoon climate. It is the region in Jilin Province with the highest accumulated annual temperature, the most rainfall, the longest frost-free period, and the gentlest wind speeds, earning it the reputation of the “Little Jiangnan of Jilin.” The average annual temperature is 7.5°C, with annual rainfall between 800–1,000 mm, a frost-free period of 150–160 days, and an average annual sunshine duration of 2,228 hours. The annual accumulated temperature above 10°C averages 3,208°C. The total river runoff is 176.5 billion cubic meters, with a per capita share of 7,661 cubic meters. Particularly, the cultivation area is less than 300 kilometers from the Dandong estuary. During spring, summer, and autumn, warm sea breezes travel up the river, bringing rare and favorable climatic conditions for schisandra production.

　　(4) Humanistic and Historical Factors: Schisandra, as a precious and widely used traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has a long history and is one of the most commonly applied and heavily utilized medicinal varieties. Due to its numerous health benefits, its applications have expanded beyond traditional medicine. Schisandra is not only indispensable in herbal medicine but is also widely used in winemaking, juice production, and more. It has been classified as a third-generation fruit tree—a wild economic plant with high application value and broad development prospects. However, due to supply-demand imbalances, overharvesting, and excessive deforestation, wild schisandra resources have been dwindling. The national annual wild schisandra procurement volume is around 2,500 tons (equivalent to 500 tons of dried product), with yields highly unstable due to natural fluctuations. In recent years, while domestic demand remains high, exports to Southeast Asian countries have also been increasing. The tightening supply has left some large and medium-sized enterprises unable to maintain production. To address future supply shortages, in addition to strengthening the conservation of wild resources, large-scale artificial cultivation is essential. As lignans gain recognition as new medicinal compounds, future cultivation may focus on extracting roots, stems, leaves, and seeds, leading to cultivation methods not solely reliant on fruit production. Standardized large-scale schisandra cultivation will undoubtedly drive rapid growth in the pharmaceutical and processing industries.

　　In recent years, to further accelerate the development of our city’s schisandra industry, promote specialty agriculture, build the Ji’an Schisandra brand, and advance the “One Village, One Product” initiative, the municipal government has partnered with major pharmaceutical enterprises. By targeting both domestic and international markets, combining exclusive enterprise supply with market sales, and enhancing policy and technological support, the city has continuously improved the development level of the schisandra industry. This has led to specialized production in cultivation, processing, and sales. Products from enterprises like Yisheng Pharmaceutical and Baoquan Specialty have obtained pollution-free agricultural product certifications. In 2006, the area of high-quality schisandra bases reached 5,000 mu, with an output of 1,000 tons, generating a production value of 30 million yuan. This initiative benefited over 1,100 farming households, increasing per capita farmer income by 1,600 yuan.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Origin Selection and Special Provisions: The production environment for Ji’an Schisandra complies with NY/T391-2000 *Technical Conditions for the Production Environment of Green Food*. Irrigation water meets the standards of GB5084-92 *Quality Standards for Farmland Irrigation Water*. The soil should be acidic or slightly acidic, adhering to GB15618-1995 *Environmental Quality Standards for Soils*. Ambient air quality must meet the first-class standards outlined in GB3059-82 *Ambient Air Quality Standards*. Ji’an Schisandra production bases should be at least 100 meters away from major traffic routes, with sufficient water sources nearby for irrigation and pest control. The distance to processing facilities should not exceed 50 km, and transportation access should be convenient. The base must be free from atmospheric, water, and soil pollution, with a frost-free period of at least 120 days, an annual accumulated temperature above 10°C exceeding 2,400°C, annual rainfall between 600–700 mm, and no severe late frosts or hail during the growing season.

　　(2) Variety Selection and Specific Requirements: Seeds should be of high-quality, high-yield, disease-resistant varieties suitable for the local climate, such as the Changbai Mountain No. 1. Before sowing, seeds must be carefully selected to ensure a thousand-seed weight of over 25g, a purity of over 90%, and a germination rate of over 90%. The previous crop should ideally be legumes, corn, or wheat.

　　(3) Production Process Management, Including Special Regulations on Agricultural Inputs: Trellising. After transplanting, the vigorous main vines of schisandra require trellises for support, which should be secured to wires as the vines grow. Weeding, Fertilization, and Irrigation. Weeds should be removed promptly after transplanting, but roots should not be disturbed to avoid damage. Allowed fertilizers include farmyard manure, commercial organic fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers, and microbial fertilizers. The use of urban garbage, industrial waste, hospital waste, and feces is prohibited. Irrigation water must meet farmland irrigation standards, with well water, rainwater, and unpolluted river water considered safe and suitable.

　　(4) Product Harvesting and Post-Harvest Processing Regulations: Optimal harvesting period: Late August to mid-September, when fruits are fully colored and softened. Harvesting should be done individually, transported separately, and stored separately. Choose sunny days for harvesting, beginning after morning dew evaporates, using harvesting shears. Minimize leaf damage, and temporarily store untransported produce in shaded areas. Avoid crushing during harvest and do not wash the fruit. Remove non-medicinal parts and foreign objects during collection, especially weeds and toxic substances, and discard damaged, rotten, or deteriorated portions.

　　(5) Production Record Requirements: Accurately document production conditions, pest and disease occurrences, technical measures, and the use of pesticides and fertilizers.

　　Typical Quality Characteristics and Product Safety Standards

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: Ji’an Schisandra is known for its large size, thick and fleshy berries, oiliness, good gloss, and high purity without mixed colors.

　　Table 1: Sensory Requirements

　　Item Indicator

　　Shape Round

　　Color Red, oily, good gloss

　　Color: Red, oily, with good luster

　　Impurities: None

　　Taste and aroma: Possess the characteristic taste and aroma of Schisandra chinensis

　　(2) Internal quality indicators: Compared with similar products, Ji’an Schisandra is rich in volatile oil, fat, citric acid, ascorbic acid, and malic acid, and contains beneficial components such as vitamins B1, B2, pp, C, carotene, fructose, protein, 17 kinds of amino acids, and trace elements including calcium, phosphorus, and iron, making it a premium-grade Schisandra product.

　　Table 2 Physical and chemical indicators

　　Item: Indicator

　　Schisandrin: ≥0.1%

　　Deoxyschisandrin: ≥0.8%

　　Volatile oil: ≥3%

　　(3) Safety requirements:

　　① Lead determination shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of GB/T5009.12-16 (atomic absorption spectrometry method).

　　② Cadmium determination shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of GB/T5009.15-1996 (atomic absorption spectrometry method).

　　③ Arsenic determination shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of GB/T5009.11-1996 (atomic fluorescence method).

　　④ Mercury determination shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of GB/T5009.17-1996 (atomic fluorescence method).

　　⑤ Determination of BHC and DDT shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of GB/T5009.19.

　　⑥ Determination of DDVP and dimethoate shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of GB/T5009.20.

　　⑦ Determination of deltamethrin shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of GB/T5009.110.

　　Packaging and labeling-related regulations

　　(1) Grading: Products are classified into special grade, first grade, second grade, third grade, and bulk grade based on sensory and physical-chemical indicators.

　　(2) Packaging: The packaging material used is corrugated cardboard boxes. The box size can be customized according to export or buyer requirements, and the hygiene standard must meet food-grade requirements.

　　(3) Labeling: The label user shall uniformly use the agricultural product geographical indication (a combination of the Ji’an Schisandra name and public identification graphic) on their products or packaging.

　　(4) Transportation: Transport vehicles or containers should have good ventilation to maintain dryness, and moisture-proof measures should be taken. The transportation time should be minimized as much as possible. They should not be mixed with other toxic, harmful, or easily odorous substances.

　　(5) Storage: If dried Schisandra is not sold immediately, it should be stored in a dry indoor location after packaging, while also preventing damage from animals such as mice. To maintain color, dried Schisandra may also be stored in sealed polyethylene plastic bags and checked regularly. However, when summer arrives and temperatures rise, it should be transferred to a low-temperature storage environment—generally a storage condition below 10°C is safe for surviving the summer.