Farmers harvest goji berries at a plantation in Zhongwei, Ningxia Hui autonomous region. Last year, Ningxia produced 260,000 metric tons of fresh goji berries, a major agricultural product. [Photo/China Daily]
The goji berry, also known as wolfberry, is a local specialty in Zhongning County, Zhongwei, Ningxia Hui autonomous region. It has been planted there for more than 600 years. Goji berries produced in Zhongning are of high quality and have high nutritional value due to the area’s favorable natural growing conditions.
Fresh goji berries are seen growing in fields in Hongsibu, Ningxia Hui autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Ningxia goji berries are the only ones that can be used as medicine in the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China. They are also on the China-EU agreement on geographical indications mutual recognition protection list. Goji berry fruits, leaves, seeds and buds have been deeply researched, developed and processed, as well as exported to many countries and regions around the world.
Goji berries grow on trees in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region. [Photo/China Daily]
Goji berry is the "red name card" of Ningxia and one of the area’s pillar industries. By 2025, the total planting area of goji berries will reach about 46,667 hectares, the output of fruit will reach 700,000 tons, and the comprehensive output value will exceed 50 billion yuan (about $8 billion). All of these will promote local economic development and build a well-known brand for Ningxia – the hometown of goji berries.
Villagers pick goji at a plantation in Tongxin county. [CHEN ZEBING/China Daily]
