CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Wednesday, August 11, 2021 | 15 BUSINESSFOCUS goji berries won the gold award in the diet and health products catego- ry at Monde Selection, a Brussels- based award for consumer products from around the world. That same year, when the EU and China agreed to formally publish the list of 200 geographical indications, Jinghe goji berries were accepted as one. “Being listed as one of the GIs helps us gain media attention from media and garner a larger group of customers,” Zhang said, adding that even with the negative effects on trade brought by the COVID-19 pan- demic, the company received orders for more than 1,000 tons of goji ber- ries from foreign clients last year. Apart from fresh and dried goji ber- ries, the company makes juices, wines and healthcare products from the fruit, which is rich in nutrients, to develop a well-rounded industry chain. Zhang pointed out that the next step is to increase yields. He views the China-EU agreement as an opportunity to revitalize the goji ber- ry industry in Xinjiang and the rest of China. Currently, Jinghe goji berry plan- tations cover 7,280 hectares in the county. There are 25 cultivation cooperatives, with more than 6,500 goji berry growers and 13 companies that can process the fruit, said Zhao Yuling, director of the county’s goji berry industry development bureau. Total exports of Jinghe goji berries reached 4,500 tons last year, she said. Growers dry goji berries at a cultivation base in Jinghe county, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The county is conducive to growing the berries due to its dry weather and plentiful sunshine. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Demand rising The county’s Turpan raisin indus- try has also received a boost from the China-EU agreement. Xiong Xiaodong, director of a rai- XINJIANG READY TO TAKE GOJI sin trading market under Xinjiang Guoye Group, said that the move would bolster the reputation of Tur- pan raisins in European markets. The trading market mainly sends BERRIES TO GLOBAL MARKETS raisins to domestic buyers in Cang- zhou, Hebei province, and Linyi, Growers aim to improve quality of produce to seize opportunities of China-EU agreement Shandong province, as well as some European cities. The market sold 10,973 tons of Editor’s note: Implementation of tions against imitations. raisins in the first five months of this the China-EU Geographical Indica- Three agricultural products from Farm fresh year, recording year-on-year growth tions Agreement is expected to Xinjiang — Korla pears, Turpan rais- of 143 percent, Xiong said. Standard- expand the reach of quality prod- ins and Jinghe goji berries — have This year, we’ve ized, large-scale production of high- ucts from both sides. This series been given such protection, which received orders for quality Turpan raisins is essential to looks at goods poised to enables them to seek wider interna- build on the advantages that the Chi- tap into East-West markets. tional markets. more than 2,000 na-EU agreement offers, he added. “This year, we’ve received orders (metric) tons of goji Sheng Zhenming, director of the By XING WEN and MAO WEIHUA for more than 2,000 (metric) tons of Bayingol Mongolian Autonomous in Urumqi goji berries, mainly from outside the berries, mainly from Korla pears Turpan raisins Jinghe goji berries Prefecture Korla Pear Association, country,” said Zhang Qin, general outside the country.” said that the China-EU agreement s farmers began prepar- manager of Jinghe Tianshan Agricul- will enhance the reputation of the ing for the first goji ber- ture Science and Technology Co in Zhang Qin, general manager 956,000 10,973 metric tons 4,500 metric tons fruit among foreign consumers and ry harvest of the year in Jinghe county, which cultivates, of Jinghe Tianshan Agricultural metric tons of Korla of Turpan raisins were of Jinghe goji berries reinforce economic and trade collab- Jinghe county, the Xin - packs, processes and sells the fruit. Science and Technology Co, pears were sold by the sold from the Shanshan were exported last year. oration. jiangA Uygur autonomous region, In recent years, Zhang’s company which sells goji berries 450 members of the county-based raisin After the agreement took effect in trading market under in June, their hopes of cashing in has made continuous efforts to Bayingol Mongolian 2,000 metric tons March, many customers called to on their crops were higher than in improve the quality of Jinghe goji weather, plentiful sunshine and a Autonomous Prefecture Xinjiang Guoye Group in order more pears, Sheng said. of goji berries will be previous years. berries and promote them globally wide temperature difference Korla Pear Association the first five months, More than 450 companies have sold by Jinghe last year, with about registering year-on-year On March 1, the agreement by seeking organic certification in between day and night are conducive Tianshan Agriculture registered as members of the associa- 1,528 tons exported. growth of 143%. between China and the European Europe, the United States and Cana- to growing the small, red fruit. Science and tion. Pears produced by association Union on geographical indications da. The company has taken samples In 2014, Zhang, a Jinghe native, Technology Co to members are sold in Beijing and took effect, bringing prospects of bet- of its berries to agricultural exposi- decided to establish an organic goji meet orders from Shanghai; Guangzhou, Guangdong ter prices and global markets. tions and fairs at home and abroad. berry plantation and add value to the outside the country province; Jiaxing, Zhejiang province; The goji berries produced in Jing- In the early 2010s, Zhang discov- product by developing the whole this year. Despite the and Changsha, Hunan province, and he are one of 200 products that have ered that goji berries, or wolfberries, industry chain. Since then, he and his 7,280 hectares negative eects of 290 other Chinese cities as well as 34 a specific geographical origin with were growing in popularity among colleagues have traveled to 28 coun- The coverage of goji berry COVID-19, it still foreign countries and regions includ- qualities or a reputation due to that health-conscious consumers. The tries, including Belgium, France and plantations in Jinghe received orders for ing the US, Canada and Australia. origin, and therefore come under the fruit is believed to have health bene- Germany, to promote their berries. county, the Xinjiang Uygur more than 1,000 tons Last year, members of the associa- protection of the agreement. fits such as protecting the eyes, stabi- Their endeavors have helped the autonomous region. from foreign clients tion sold 956,000 tons of pears in total, Last year, China and the EU rolled lizing blood sugar levels and fruit to receive wider recognition in last year. of which 1,528 tons were for export. out measures to protect 100 of the preventing liver and kidney damage. the international market, and the Source: The goji berry industry development EU’s geographical indications and Goji berries are considered a spe- company has won awards for the bureau in Jinghe county Contact the writers at 100 Chinese geographical indica- cialty of Jinghe county, as the dry quality of its products. 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