Rucheng Asparagus from Ruicheng County, Yuncheng, Shanxi, China, Receives National Agro-product Geographical Indication Certification

Recently, in accordance with Announcement No. 2277 of the Ministry of Agriculture, “Ruicheng Asparagus” declared by Ruicheng County obtained the National Agro-product Geographical Indication Registration Certificate issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, becoming the 3rd agro-product in Ruicheng County to pass national geographical indication certification, after “Ruicheng Pepper” and “Ruicheng Apple”.

Asparagus is a major industry for increasing farmers' income in Ruicheng County. In recent years, Ruicheng County has mainly taken five measures to vigorously develop the asparagus industry. First, focusing on technical training. Experts from the national, provincial, municipal and county levels were hired to conduct centralized training for asparagus farmers and to provide guidance in the fields, enabling the asparagus farmers to become experts in management. Second, focusing on variety upgrading. Farmers were actively guided to gradually phase out aging varieties and to focus on promoting superior asparagus varieties. Third, focusing on typical demonstrations. Great efforts were made to secure the Shanxi Province Asparagus Export Production Base Construction Project, guide farmers in fine management, and build a thousand-mu standardized demonstration zone. Fourth, focusing on e-commerce platforms. More than 70 rural e-commerce platforms across the county were organized to vigorously promote Ruicheng Asparagus, enhance its visibility and reputation, and broaden sales channels. Fifth, focusing on product promotion. Asparagus enterprises were organized to participate in specialty agro-product promotion fairs, green food expos, agricultural expos and agricultural trade fairs to improve brand influence and market competitiveness.

At present, the county's asparagus planting area has reached 15,000 mu, all of which has passed pollution-free agro-product origin certification and product certification, with an annual output of 10,000 tons of asparagus, covering 43 administrative villages in 7 townships (towns). The benefit of asparagus is 4,000-9,000 yuan per mu, with total annual income of 91 million yuan. It has developed into an important pillar industry in rural areas and is playing an increasingly important supporting role in increasing farmers' income.