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Introduction to GIs under the China-EU Agreement on Geographical Indications (38): Meixian Kiwifruit
2022-10-28 16:24

The China-EU Agreement on Geographical Indications officially entered into force on March 1, 2021. It is China's first bilateral comprehensive and high-level agreement on the protection of geographical indications (GIs), and an important and practical outcome in the development of China-EU economic and trade relations in recent years.

We will continue to introduce to you the first batch of 100 Chinese GIs and 100 European GIs under the Agreement, to better protect and market them to meet the needs of consumers on both sides for a better life.

GI Episode 38: Meixian Kiwifruit

The term “Meixian Kiwifruits” refers to the kiwis produced in Meixian County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. Spanning across the central and western parts of Shaanxi Province, Meixian County borders the Qinling Mountains in the south. The Weihe River runs through the county’s northern portion. Meixian County is endowed with moderate temperatures and 2,000 average annual hours of sunshine, giving the perfect shape and beautiful color to the local kiwifruits. They have a well-balanced sour/sweet taste thanks to naturally sourced pure spring water and diurnal temperature variation of more than 10 degrees during the ripening season.

Tang Dynasty (618–907) poet Cen Shen has mentioned the fruit in one of his poems, “The Weihe River’s waters are agitated by the autumn rain and brisk northerly wind. The mountains, the tallest of which is Taibai Peak, gradually become visible as the sky clears up... In the atrium is a trellis covered by kiwi vines.” The poem’s setting is in Meixian County, which sits in the south of the Wei River and at the foot of the Taibai Mountain. This poem contains the first mention of kiwi cultivation in Chinese gardens.

In 1978, Meixian people selected kiwi varieties that grow best in local environments from wild ones. In the following 40 years, they bred more than 20 varieties, including commercially successful varieties such as Xuxiang, from Meiwei, Zhonghua, Ruanzao and Maohua lines, contributing to the national reputation of Meixian kiwifruits.

Meixian County is home to a large number of companies and organizations engaged in research and development, exhibition, trading, cold storage, deep processing, logistics and distribution, integrated management and other activities related to fruit and agricultural supplies, including those providing quality inspection, market intelligence, and e-commerce services.

Meixian kiwifruits sell very well in more than 30 large and medium-sized Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. They are also exported to more than 10 countries in Southeast Asia, North America, and the Middle East. E-commerce has greatly boosted the global sales of Meixian kiwifruits.

Kiwifruit has gradually become a major economic driver as well as a major contributor to poverty reduction in Meixian County.

Local people are committed to making Meixian County one of the world’s most well-known kiwifruit producers.

Meixian Kiwifruits, the absolutely perfect combination of sweet and sour, are ready for you to devour.



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