Photo/Henan Daily
"These shiitake mushrooms are top-notch, with their well-rounded shape and meaty texture. When making soup, I always look for these qualities," shares Wang Mengdie, a young woman from Nanyang city in Henan province who has been working far from home for many years. Adding mushrooms from her hometown to her dishes, she says, is her way of alleviating homesickness.
Over the past 30 years, the quality of shiitake mushrooms from Xixia county has continuously improved, making them a beloved choice for consumers both in China and abroad. Whether used for soups, cooking, or in shiitake mushroom sauce, Xixia Shiitake Mushrooms have become a true symbol of excellence. This success is largely due to the benefits of geographical indications that enhance this distinctive local industry.
In 2022, enterprises in Xixia pioneered the use of the geographical indication protection mark for Xixia Shiitake Mushrooms, a first in the Nanyang city. That laid a strong foundation for the high-quality development of local businesses through geographical indications.
"We were the first company in the county to use the geographical indication protection mark. To qualify, businesses must guarantee the quality of 'Xixia Shiitake Mushrooms', ensure compliant packaging, and safeguard the reputation of Xixia's agricultural brands and geographical indication products," said Sun Wei, General Manager of the Sunshi Mushroom Industry Cooperative in Xixia.
Establishing a renowned brand takes time. "In recent years, we have held different specialized training sessions for companies using the geographical indication mark for 'Xixia Shiitake Mushrooms', aiming to regulate its usage," said Fu Lizhu, head of the Market Supervision and Regulation Bureau of Xixia. To date, the county is home to two nationally recognized intellectual property advantage enterprises and twelve such enterprises at the provincial level. Nine companies have been authorized to use the geographical indication marks for 'Xixia Shiitake Mushrooms' and 'Xixia Kiwifruit'. Notably, 'Xixia Shiitake Mushrooms' were selected as part of the first group under the "China-EU agreement on geographical indications". They are also the only product from Henan chosen for the 2024 National Geographical Indication Protection Project.
"Going forward, we will maintain our strategy of cultivating, qualifying, recommending, and utilizing, to continue our work with geographical indications. This will aid in the sustainable development of businesses and strive to create a consumer environment that inspires trust and satisfaction," adds Fu Lizhu. (Chinese source /Henan Daily Reporter/Jia Yongbiao Translator/Cao Jingyi Proofreader/Zhu Wenxiao)
