Nanyang agricultural products win national accreditation

Potato of Tanghe county, shiitake mushroom of Xixia and toon of Tongbai, are three agricultural products from Nanyang to be granted geographical indication status by Ministry of Agriculture recently.

National protected geographical indication products refer to those produced in a specific area whose natural environment, historical background or cultural connotation is key to the quality and characteristics of the products.

Located at the heartland of Funiu Mountain, Xixia is characterized by a mild temperature, abundant rainfall and huge day-night temperature differences, which make it a prime location for mushroom planting.

With products sold to the US, South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia, Xixia's shiitake mushroom industry brought in revenue of $660 million in 2016, in spite of the downward pressure of international market.

Tongbai, which lies in the headstream of Huaihe River, is a transitional zone between the climates of northern and southern China. Leveraging its ecological superiority, the county planted over 11,000 mu (733 hectares) of toon, a red wood tree commonly found in Asia, with an output value of more than 50 million yuan ($7.5 million).

Covering an area of 500,000 mu, potatoes in Tanghe are reputed for their texture and nutrition. As of October 2016, there are more than 20 cooperatives and production bases in the county, generating over 600 million yuan in revenue.

The geographical indication titles, not only serve as a powerful endorsement for the quality of the products, but also will help them to become a calling card of the area and further boost local economy.