As autumn arrives, the Heyin pomegranates are entering their harvest season, with large and red pomegranates hanging abundantly on the branches. When you pick a handful of crystal-clear red pomegranate seeds and savor them, their crisp texture and sweetness are sure to make your mouth water.
Recently, the 20th Heyin Pomegranate Culture Festival took place at the Pomegranate Square in Liugou village, Gaocun township of Xingyang city, with related picking activities continuing until late October. Visitors from all regions are invited to experience the renewed charm of pomegranate culture.
The pomegranates from Heyin (now known as Xingyang) are a local specialty. The region's fertile soil, combined with irrigation from the Yellow River, significant temperature differences between day and night, and long sunlight hours, produces pomegranates with thin skins, large seeds, and an exceptionally sweet and refreshing taste. When chewed, they are delicate and free of any grit, making it possible to "eat pomegranates without spitting out the seeds", a feature that is deeply loved by gourmets.
Photo/Henan Daily
In 2007, Heyin pomegranates were recognized as a national geographical indication product by the former State Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection. In 2008, they received certification as a pollution-free agricultural product from the former Ministry of Agriculture of China, and their cultivation techniques were listed as part of Zhengzhou's intangible cultural heritage. In 2015, they were included in the fourth batch of Henan province's intangible cultural heritage.
To enhance the reputation of "Heyin Pomegranate" as a national geographical indication product, the Market Supervision and Regulation Bureau of Xingyang City has, in recent years, organized special initiatives for intellectual property and trademark protection on important dates such as World Consumer Rights Day and World Intellectual Property Day, conducting inspections and providing guidance for farmer cooperatives and individual businesses.
"Encouraging and supporting planting enterprises to follow Heyin pomegranate production standards, guiding business entities to legally use geographical indications, and protecting the intellectual property rights of Heyin pomegranates are key measures to promote the high-quality development of the Heyin pomegranate industry," said an official from the Market Supervision and Regulation Bureau of Xingyang City. The bureau will continue to promote the "Local Standards for Heyin Pomegranate," strictly enforce the standards, focus on improving pomegranate quality, protect the reputation of Heyin pomegranates, and expand sales channels to increase revenue.
Currently, the planting area for Heyin pomegranates in Xingyang covers over 60,000 acres, with this year's production estimated at nearly 100,000 tons. A variety of processed products, such as pomegranate wine, pomegranate tea, and pomegranate bonsai landscapes, have already been developed. (Chinese source/Henan Daily Reporter/Zeng Ming Translator/Zhang Rui Proofreader/Song Yang)
