Chinese Arctic Blueberries

Chinese Arctic Blueberries

Chinese Arctic Blueberries are a protected geographical indication product.

　　Chinese Arctic Blueberries come from the pristine forests of the Greater Khingan Mountains, where their roots grow year-round in permafrost and can withstand extreme cold of -50°C. They are a completely pollution-free natural berry. The Greater Khingan Mountains are one of the key regions in Heilongjiang Province and even across China for producing green food, especially as wild blueberry reserves account for over 90% of the national total and 30% of the global total.

　　Chinese Arctic Blueberries come from the pristine forests of the Greater Khingan Mountains, where their roots grow year-round in permafrost and can withstand extreme cold of -50°C. They are a completely pollution-free natural berry.

　　They grow in the lush forests of the towering Greater Khingan Mountains. This area lies on the northern frontier of the country, bordering the Lesser Khingan Mountains to the east, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the west along the Greater Khingan Mountain range, and the vast Songnen Plain to the south. The region experiences cold winters and warm summers, with large diurnal temperature variations. The average annual temperature is -2.8°C, and the average annual precipitation is 746 mm, characterized by a cold temperate continental monsoon climate. It is a pristine land in northern China, covered by vast, boundless forests, often referred to as a “green treasure house.” Within this vast expanse of greenery, over 390 species of wildlife and 966 species of plant resources thrive. It is precisely this unique geographical environment that gives rise to wild blueberries that are rich in flavor—sweet yet tangy—and packed with nutrients.

　　The Greater Khingan Mountains are one of the key regions in Heilongjiang Province and even across China for producing green food, especially as wild blueberry reserves account for over 90% of the national total and 30% of the global total. At the first International Blueberry Festival and Specialty Products Trade Fair in the Greater Khingan Mountains, blueberries—as an emerging and rapidly growing “third-generation fruit” globally—had their processing value further affirmed. Blueberry enterprises in the Greater Khingan Mountains have essentially formed a complete industrial chain, with product development becoming increasingly mature. The main offerings include fresh berries, juice, jam, dried fruit, preserved fruit, canned goods, blueberry wine, and various blueberry extract health products. In addition, the more complexly produced blueberry ice wine also holds broad market potential. Now, with the added prestige of being a protected geographical indication product, it is believed that blueberries will drive the growth of even more green industries.

　　According to a 2007 resource survey, the natural yield of blueberries in the Greater Khingan Mountains was 19,933.3 tons, with an annual economic yield of 12,956.65 tons. As blueberries are further developed and utilized, wild blueberry resources will become increasingly precious, and the advantages of the wild blueberry resources in the Greater Khingan Mountains will become ever more apparent.

　　Protected geographical indication products are a natural calling card—a “golden passport” to international markets. Recently, our region’s “Chinese Arctic Blueberries” were officially approved by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine as a protected geographical indication product. This achievement marks a qualitative leap for our region’s blueberries—from being an “unknown entity” to a “household name”—and adds a brilliant touch to the upcoming first International Blueberry Festival and Specialty Products Trade Fair in the Greater Khingan Mountains.

　　 Protected geographical indication products are the crystallization of a country’s geography, culture, and traditional craftsmanship, representing superior quality. With the rapid development of the global economy, geographical indications have become a unique asset. “Chinese Arctic Blueberries” are truly 100% natural and pollution-free, and are hailed as the “king of berries.”

　　 According to a 2007 resource survey, the natural yield of blueberries in the Greater Khingan Mountains was 19,933.3 tons, with an annual economic yield of 12,956.65 tons. As blueberries are further developed and utilized, wild blueberry resources will become increasingly precious, and the advantages of the wild blueberry resources in the Greater Khingan Mountains will become ever more apparent. The development of blueberry products in our region has a history of over 20 years. From the initial sale of raw blueberries and juice, we have now developed over 30 varieties across five major categories of blueberry products.

　　 In December last year, at the expert review meeting for the protected geographical indication product application of “Chinese Arctic Blueberries,” experts from institutions such as China Agricultural University, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China University of Political Science and Law, and the Science and Technology Department of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine carefully reviewed and discussed aspects including the name, protection scope, product characteristics, growing environment, technical standards, and product reputation of the “Chinese Arctic Blueberries” application for protected geographical indication status—based on the national “Regulations on the Protection of Geographical Indication Products.” The expert panel concluded that the distinctive product “Chinese Arctic Blueberries” from the Greater Khingan Mountains possesses certain regional characteristics and recognition, meets the relevant regulations for applying for protected geographical indication status, and determined that the protected object would be fresh berries, with the protection scope covering the current administrative region of the Greater Khingan Mountains area. The total area of the applied protected geographical indication product scope is 84,600 square kilometers.

　　 The Greater Khingan Mountains region has established an office for the protection of the “Chinese Arctic Blueberries” protected geographical indication product, responsible for the day-to-day work of its protection and the formulation of the “Management Measures for the Use of the Special Logo of the Chinese Arctic Blueberries Protected Geographical Indication Product.” Efforts have been strengthened to protect wild blueberries, managing and conserving them in accordance with the “Heilongjiang Province Wild Medicinal Materials Protection and Management Regulations” and the “Greater Khingan Mountains Forest Understory Resources Protection and Management Measures.” Resource protection zones for wild blueberries have been designated to ensure the sustainable development of the blueberry industry. This time, the national protected geographical indication status granted to “Chinese Arctic Blueberries” plays an important role in strengthening the protection and utilization of wild blueberry resources and achieving sustainable management of these resources. According to the “Greater Khingan Mountains Blueberry Fruit Industrial Development Plan,” the “Chinese Arctic Blueberries” project plans to plant 60,000 mu (approximately 4,000 hectares) in the near term, with 7,800 mu (approximately 520 hectares) planted annually during the construction period from 2009 to 2015, aiming for an annual yield of 30,000 tons of blueberries upon reaching full production. The long-term planting target is 200,000 mu (approximately 13,333 hectares), with an annual yield of 100,000 tons of blueberries upon reaching full production.

　　The protected geographical indication product scope of Chinese Arctic Blueberries covers the current administrative region of the Greater Khingan Mountains area in Heilongjiang Province.