With the continuous improvement of living standards, fruit juice drinks have become an essential part of daily life for quenching thirst and providing nutrition. In recent years, China's fruit juice processing industry has experienced rapid growth. The total annual production of fruit juice is approximately 1.5 million tons, with a per capita consumption of around 1.1 kg. However, this is still far below the global average of 10 kg. One of the main challenges in the industry is the limited availability of raw materials, which leads to low operating rates of processing plants (around two-thirds), high production costs, and low profitability. Additionally, the export value remains relatively low.
To promote the development of the export-oriented fruit and juice industry, it is crucial to explore and cultivate fruit varieties that are well-suited for juice production. Particularly, wild, semi-wild, or cultivated small fruits and berries—known for their high nutritional value and ease of cultivation—are gaining attention. These fruits are not only rich in vitamins and minerals but also offer great potential for both domestic and international markets. Local farmers have been actively experimenting with these crops, and several rare, high-value small fruits are now being highlighted for their economic and health benefits.
One such fruit is sea buckthorn, also known as sour orange. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree commonly found in the Loess Plateau region (Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia) as well as high-altitude areas in Inner Mongolia and Hebei. The fruit is oval-shaped and orange in color, with a distinctive sweet and sour taste. It contains 5.4% to 12.5% soluble sugars, 1% to 2% organic acids, and about 40–80 grams per 100 grams. Sea buckthorn is rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, and contains high levels of potassium and phosphorus. It also includes over 20 amino acids and more than 20 trace elements, making it a valuable ingredient for beverages, food products, and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, it can be used for ecological restoration, helping to prevent soil erosion in northern regions.
Another notable fruit is the thorn pear, a member of the Rosaceae family. It thrives in Guizhou’s unique climate and ecological conditions. The fruit is round or oblate, with a yellow or orange color, weighing between 10–20 grams. Its flavor is sweet and slightly sour, and it contains sugars, organic acids, and more than 20 types of amino acids. It has the highest vitamin C content among all fruits during its ripening period in August and September. This makes it ideal for producing advanced beverages and functional foods. It is suitable for planting in mountainous regions with limited sunlight, cooler summers and autumns, and mild winters, such as parts of Chongqing, southern Sichuan, western Hunan, and northern Guangxi.
The cherry plum, also known as wild plum or Chinese plum, is another promising fruit. It grows in the area between 800–2000 meters above sea level in southern Yili, Xinjiang. The fruit resembles a cherry, with colors ranging from yellow to red or nearly black. It has a sugar content of 5%–7% and citric acid of 4%–7%, offering a balanced sweet and sour flavor. It matures in August. Recently, a large-scale wild plum juice factory was established in Yili, and it is suitable for cultivation in northern China, the northwest, and Liaoning, where winter temperatures rarely drop below -35°C.
Black currant, also called black bean, is a shrub from the Saxifragaceae family. It is mainly grown in Kyrgyzstan, Liaoning, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia. Each fruit weighs between 0.8–1.4 grams, with a sugar content of 7%–13% and organic acid of 1.8%–3.7%. It is particularly rich in vitamin C, with up to 417 mg per 100 grams of fresh fruit, second only to kiwifruit. It is widely used for processing into jams, syrups, and other products. It is currently being developed vigorously in southern Yili, Xinjiang, and is suitable for areas where winter temperatures exceed -35°C.
Lastly, Vaccinium species, including lingonberry and bilberry, are highly nutritious. Fresh fruit contains 400–700 mg of protein, 500–600 mg of fat, 80–100 international units of vitamin A, and essential nutrients like iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, niacin, and flavonoids. These berries have low sugar and fat content, along with strong antioxidant properties, making them ideal for health-focused products. Their delicate texture and sweet-sour flavor make them excellent for juices, jams, wines, and preserves. They are also valued as premium health foods, with international prices reaching up to $10 per kilogram. In China, they are mainly produced in Heilongjiang and Xinjiang. Recently, improved varieties have been introduced from the U.S., adapted for southern cultivation. There are different types, such as blueberry trees that grow up to 0.3 meters tall, and bilberries found on moist slopes in Changbai Mountain.
Stick Crab Frozen,Crab Stick Frozen Food,Frozen Food Crab Stick,Frozen Imitation Crab Sticks
Zhejiang Zhoufu Food Co., Ltd. , https://www.zhoufu-food.com