Changlin Island Golden Red Apples

Changlin Island Golden Red Apples

Changlin Island Golden Red Apples are a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　In the process of structural adjustment, the Wujiuqi Farm of Heilongjiang Provincial Agricultural Reclamation has vigorously developed its forestry and fruit economy. Its 27,000-mu fruit tree base yields abundant produce such as Golden Red apples, plums, apricots, pears, and grapes, with an annual output of around 12,000 tons. The produce sells well both within and outside the province and is even exported to Russia. The China Market Academy has awarded it the title of “Home of Golden Red Apple Production and Processing in Changlin Island, China.” Leveraging this prestigious label, the farm has vigorously developed family-run forest farms and built a 150-mu fruit sightseeing and picking garden to attract tourists with its “special, novel, and premium” offerings. Currently, over 3,000 people on the farm are engaged in forestry and fruit production. There are 930 economically viable family forest farms, forming a new development pattern where the forestry fruit economy, under-fruit economy, and under-forest breeding develop together.

　　Wujiuqi Farm is located within Baoqing County in the eastern part of Heilongjiang Province. Its terrain is elongated, sloping from southwest to northeast. The southwest leans against the northern foothills of the Wandashan Mountains, while the northeast reaches the junction of the Qixing River and the Naoli River, characterized by “one ridge, three flats, and six depressions.” The area covers approximately 960 square kilometers. The southwest of the farm belongs to the foothills of the Wandashan Mountains, with mountainous areas spanning nearly 150,000 mu and elevations ranging between 100 and 560 meters. It has a cold temperate continental climate, with an average annual temperature of 4.2°C, accumulated annual temperatures ranging from 2152.9 to 3059.3°C, and annual precipitation between 412.6 and 750 millimeters. The unique climate contributes to the distinctive quality of the region’s agricultural products. Changlin Island is situated within Wujiuqi Farm, in the triangular area where the Qixing River and the Naoli River converge, forming a wide lake. In the center, there is a piece of land protruding above the water surface, densely covered with bushes, originally called “Changlinzi.” In 1963, the Central News Film Studio shot a documentary here titled “Changlin Island,” reflecting the hard work of pioneers reclaiming wasteland, and since then, “Changlinzi” has been renamed “Changlin Island.” Changlin Island covers a total area of 385 square kilometers. Surrounded by water on three sides with lush aquatic plants, it serves as an excellent habitat for waterfowl such as swans, red-crowned cranes, and wild ducks, and is designated as a county-level nature reserve. It is also the main production area for fruits and aquatic products on Wujiuqi Farm.

　　The main varieties of apples grown on Changlin Island in Wujiuqi Farm are Golden Red (123), K9, and the Longken series. The unique geographical and climatic conditions produce fruits that are large, delicious, brightly colored, and have a great taste. The products sell well in surrounding areas and are exported as far as Guangxi, Guizhou, and Russia.

　　As the reputation of “Golden Red Apples” grew and the fruit market expanded, Wujiuqi Farm decided to designate September 10th of each year starting in 2009 as the “China · Changlin Island Golden Red Apple Festival.” Using the fruit as a medium, the festival vigorously promotes and publicizes the “Changlin Island” brand of fruit products, continuously pushing Wujiuqi Farm’s produce into the domestic wholesale fruit industry. In 1995, the high-quality fruit base on Changlin Island in Wujiuqi Farm was included in the Farm Bureau’s ten-thousand-mu fruit tree development project. In 2003, it was awarded the title of “Home of High-Quality Golden Red Apple Series Fruit Production and Processing in Changlin Island, China” by the China Market Academy.

　　Changlin Island Golden Red Apples are a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Changlin Island Golden Red Apples

　　Geographic Scope

　　The protected geographic indication area for Changlin Island Golden Red Apples includes the Horticulture Farm Work Station, the Original Seed Farm Work Station, and the Deer Farm Residential Group in the Sixth Management Area of Wujiuqi Farm. The geographical coordinates are between 131°57′–132°45′ east longitude and 46°23′–47°47′ north latitude. The protected area spans 6,600 hectares, with a production area of 3,300 hectares and an annual output of 50,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: Changlin Island Golden Red Apples are broadly oval in shape, with a generally uniform and consistent fruit surface color. Over 80% of the fruit surface is bright red, giving the fruit a vivid color and regular shape, with an average single fruit weight of ≥70 grams. The skin is smooth, free of blemishes or wounds, and retains the stem. The fruit’s peel hardness reaches 8.5 kg/cm². The flesh is yellow-white, fine, crisp, juicy, and aromatic, with superior quality, rich flavor, and a pleasant sweet-and-sour taste. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: The total acidity of Golden Red apples is less than 0.7%, vitamin C content is greater than 140 mg/kg, soluble solids exceed 15%, and soluble sugars are greater than 13%. 3. Safety Requirements: The production environment complies with the “Pollution-Free Food – Forestry and Fruit Product Growing Environment” (NY5013-2006) standards, and the product meets the safety requirements of the “Pollution-Free Food – Pome Fruit” (NY5322-2006) standards.