'Chinese gooseberry' proves to be a fruitful crop

XI'AN－Before it was brought to New Zealand about a century ago and became world-renowned as kiwi fruit, it had been grown and known as the "Chinese gooseberry" for almost 1,500 years. Back in its hometown in Northwest China, it has brought prosperity to over 120,000 people.

At the end of November, Deng Xiaoqing, a farmer in Meixian county, Baoji city of Shaanxi province, had sold out all of this year's kiwi fruit harvest.

"The kiwi fruit industry in my hometown is enjoying a renaissance. Usually, the fruit would be sold out by the end of the year, but this year, the sales goal was completed ahead of schedule," says the 38-year-old farmer.

The fruit was recorded in China's ancient medical book, Compendium of Materia Medica, during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), while it was cultivated in fields and gardens as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Deng once worked as a graphic designer in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. In 2015, when he saw his neighbor sell 10 boxes of kiwi fruit in just one day online, Deng decided to return to his family business of planting the fruit.

Once harvested in autumn, he dries the juicy fruit for one day so that it can be better preserved in the county's shared cold storage. Stored at a temperature between -1 C and 1 C, the fresh kiwi fruit is kept hydrated with automatic sprinklers and sufficient nitrogen.

"My customers are from all across the country and about 40 percent of the fruit is sold via social media platforms," Deng says.

Last year, the ambitious farmer expanded his cultivation area. "I'm optimistic about the kiwi fruit industry in my hometown."

A bilateral agreement on geographical indications between China and Europe came into effect in March, while Meixian kiwi fruit was listed among China's first batch of products under GI protection.

"Our fruit is yummy and healthy. I believe it will attract more overseas customers in the future," Deng says.

About 520,000 metric tons of kiwi fruit was harvested this year in Meixian, bringing a total value of about 5.85 billion yuan ($918 million) to the county.

A kiwi fruit-themed museum has been set up in the county, displaying the fruit's history and modern industrial development. The local government has teamed up with universities to further improve the production efficiency and taste of the fruit.

The county also plans to attract more investment and international talent to develop relevant industrial chains, including fruit wine and cosmetics.

"We will develop industrial chains and turn the county into a major production hub of the delicious fruit," says Zhang Xinlin, director of the county's kiwi fruit industrial park management committee.

Xinhua