Jujube—Chinese Date, a Potential Fruit Crop in New Mexico

Late frost is the number one issue challenging the fruit industry in central and northern New Mexico. For most fruit growers without frost protection equipment, there was no crop or minimal crop produced in both 2010 and 2011. Good alternative crops are needed for New Mexico and other states with similar weather conditions to give growers more reliable annual revenue. Jujubes, also called Chinese dates, originated in China and have been cultivated there for over 4000 years. Jujubes leaf/bud out 4–6 weeks later than most tree fruit crops, allowing them to avoid late frosts.  Jujubes also tolerate a wide range of weather and soil conditions with pH ranging from 5.5–8.5. Mature jujube trees can tolerate –20 °F in winter. In addition, Jujube flower buds initiate, bloom, set fruit, and mature within one growing season, which contributes to its reliable crop each year. Although jujubes are a novelty crop to most New Mexicans, there are existing trees scattered across the state from La Mesa and Las Cruces near the south border, Silver City, South Valley, Los Lunas, Albuquerque, Tucumcari, to Alcalde in northern New Mexico. All of the existing trees have been growing and producing reliable crops under the hot and semi-arid New Mexico climate conditions. So far, jujubes are disease and pest free, which makes them easy for organic production in New Mexico. Jujube fruit itself is very nutritious; it contains 200–500 mg of vitamin C per 100g of fresh fruit—100 times higher than apple and peach. Jujubes are very popular in China and people consume them for both nutritional and medicinal purposes. Fresh jujubes can be eaten raw and are very sweet and crisp; dried fruits can be eaten alone or cooked in porridge or broth to add flavor. Besides being eaten fresh and dried, jujubes are also processed into candied fruit, smoked fruit, juice, jam, wine, mixed beverages, powders, and tea. In addition, jujube paste is widely used as pastry filling and is one of the most popular moon cake flavors in China. With its late leaf-out date, wide adaptation, reliable crop, and nutritional benefits, jujube would be a great fruit producing and ornamental tree. It also has big potential for commercial production in New Mexico. Detailed research is needed for cultivar selection, cultivar compatibility, culture management, and marketing strategies.