Organic vs. Conventional Goji Berries

What are the differenecs between organic and conventional goji berries? This is a good question. If you try organic free range chicken and conventional chicken, yes, we can tell some differences. In case of goji beries the difference in taste between organic and conventional goji berries is subtle. Obviously you know there are both organic carrot and conventional carrot, can you tell some differences in taste?

Although some wild-crafted goji berries could be classified as organic ones, the organic goji berries do not usually refer to such wildcrafted ones, instead, they refer to the commerically grown goji berries on better lands with strict management. Normally a land can only be used for growing organic vegetables or crops after no pesticides and chemical fertilizers are applied for three years, along with other measures. In addition, there are also requirements regarding the distances between bushes, and scientific management etc etc.

On the other hand the requirements for growing conventional goji berries are not as strict as organic goji berries. So normally the annual yield of conventional goji berries are much higher than organic ones.

Interestingly in China there is currently another type of goji berries called "green" goji berries. It doesn't mean the goji berries are of green colour, it means that such goji berries are grown under the same scientific management but the land has not passed the organic requirements.

Growers can not claim their goji berries organic ones unless they are certified by some accredited organations such as CERES in Germany. So certificate is a key for organic goji berries. Currently in China there are two major accredited growers of organic goji berries, one in Shanxi province, and the other one in Ningxia province

Just for your information