Basic Introduction to Hunan Xiangxi Kiwi Fruit
Hunan Xiangxi Kiwi Fruit, also known as Yang Tao, is abundant in the wild with five varieties including Actinidia chinensis, Actinidia eriantha, and Actinidia polygama. Kiwi fruit is rich in Vitamin C and organic acids, which can regulate digestion, generate fluids, and relieve dryness. It is often referred to as the “king of fruits.” It has the characteristics of high yield, large fruit size, good quality, and a sweet taste. Trees begin bearing fruit three years after planting, making it an extremely valuable fruit.
Nutritional Value
The Hunan Xiangxi Kiwi is a fruit with both nutritional and economic value. Based on wild kiwi, the Biology Department at Jishou University cultivated a new variety called Mi Liang No. 1 Kiwi. This variety not only contains abundant Vitamin C and organic acids that help regulate digestion and generate fluids but also boasts high yields, large fruit size, excellent quality, and a sweet taste.
Product Features
The resources of Hunan Xiangxi Kiwi Fruit account for about one-third of the total area of Hunan Province. The main varieties are “Mi Liang No. 1” and “Gu Zhan 79-4.” They are rich in nutrients, containing sugars, proteins, carotene, and 14 rare elements, particularly selenium. “Mi Liang No. 1” is a high-quality, high-yielding, delicious kiwi fruit variety developed through hybridization of wild kiwi resources over 12 years by Professor Shi Zeliang and other researchers from the Biochemistry College of Jishou University. “Mi Liang No. 1” has won national awards such as the “Quality New Product Award,” the Ministry of Agriculture's “Hope Award,” and the “First Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress” from Xiangxi Prefecture. It was designated by the Ministry of Agriculture as a key variety to be promoted nationwide.
Historical Folklore
In the early 1990s, the farmers in Xiangxi had yet to fully recognize the potential of kiwi fruit cultivation. To break the deadlock and set an example, allowing impoverished farmers in mid-to-high altitude areas to become prosperous, the kiwi research team from Jishou University ventured into rural areas to establish pilot projects. The first batch of pilots were selected in Yuewu Village, Changtan Township, Longshan County (elevation 300 meters), Qingyu Village, Bafacun Township (elevation 1,100 meters), and Shuangputang Village, Liaojiqiao Town, Fenghuang County (elevation 460 meters). In 1991, these sites were established, and by 1993, all Mi Liang No. 1 plants bore abundant fruit. Upon inspection by the Science and Technology Commission of the Prefecture, the highest single-plant yield reached 188 pounds, with an average of 94 pounds per plant. Yields exceeded 4,000 pounds per acre, with an income of more than 10,000 yuan per acre at the time, making the economic benefits very significant. The success of the pilot projects and their persuasive power helped to resolve the farmers' biggest concern about growing kiwi fruit, sparking the earliest kiwi development craze in Longshan County and Fenghuang County within Xiangxi Prefecture.
In the past decade, the development of kiwi fruit in Xiangxi has accelerated, increasing by ten thousand acres each year. By 2006, the total area under kiwi cultivation had reached 100,000 acres, with nearly 70,000 acres bearing fruit. In normal years, the output reached 100,000 tons, accounting for 20% of China's total kiwi production. Xiangxi has become one of the primary supply bases for fresh kiwi fruit in southern China. Additionally, since 1998, Jishou University has collaborated with Hunan Laodie Agricultural Science and Technology Development Company to develop kiwi fruit products. Jishou University is responsible for product research and development, while Laodie handles production and sales. Currently, Laodie has developed four major categories and 35 series of products, including health foods represented by King Fruit Essence, beverages represented by kiwi fruit juice, snacks represented by dried fruit and seed biscuits, and skincare products represented by Softening King Fruit Essence. Of these, 11 products have been launched in the market. Meanwhile, Laodie's production capacity has expanded year by year, processing kiwi fruit from just a few hundred tons initially to 15,000 tons now. King Fruit Essence, fruit juice, dried fruit, seed biscuits, and Softening King Fruit Essence have become Laodie's flagship products.