Yuyao Pickled Mustard Greens

Yuyao Pickled Mustard Greens

Yuyao Pickled Mustard Greens is a geographical indication protected product.

Yuyao Pickled Mustard Greens is a geographical indication certified trademark.

　　Yuyao Pickled Mustard Greens, a specialty of Yuyao City, Zhejiang Province. Yuyao is a renowned production and processing base for pickled mustard greens in China, and the largest such base in the country. It has been designated by the Ministry of Agriculture as the "Hometown of Pickled Mustard Greens in China." Among the top ten leading agricultural industries in Yuyao, pickled mustard greens have the highest level of industrialization. As of 2009, the city had 120,000 mu of pickled mustard greens cultivation bases, producing over 1 billion jin of fresh mustard greens annually, with a processing output value of 1.2 billion yuan. The national market share reached 60%, and the product was exported to more than 10 countries and regions.

　　Product Features

　　　　Yuyao Pickled Mustard Greens have a slightly yellow color and are known for their tender and crispy texture.

　　 Main Production Areas

　　　　The main planting areas are concentrated in towns along Hangzhou Bay in northern Yuyao, including Simen, Linshan, Xiaocao’e, and Huangjiabu.

　　 Planting Situation

　　　　Yuyao Pickled Mustard Greens are planted intensively and on a large scale, with preliminary industrial processing and nationwide market coverage. The planting area exceeds 100,000 mu, involving over 100,000 farmers, and yielding more than 1 billion jin of fresh mustard greens annually. There are over 120 processing enterprises in Yuyao, with an annual processing output value of 1 billion yuan. The marketing network spans the whole country, and the products are also exported overseas.

　　 Industry Development

　　　　The production of Yuyao Pickled Mustard Greens began in the early 1960s, starting in the cotton-growing regions of northern Yuyao. It has roughly gone through four stages of development. Trials began in the 1960s, gradual promotion occurred in the 1970s, widespread adoption took place in the 1980s, and rapid development happened in the 1990s, making it one of the leading agricultural products in Yuyao. 　　Pickled mustard greens processing enterprises have increased investment in technological upgrades, committed to product innovation, strengthened management, and worked to improve product quality and grade. As a result, Yuyao Pickled Mustard Greens have gained strong consumer preference, continuously expanding market share and giving rise to a number of well-known premium brands. Through years of effort, the scale and strength of Yuyao’s pickled mustard greens enterprises have significantly improved. Ten enterprises with assets exceeding 10 million yuan meet the standards of modern food processing companies, 20 enterprises have added high-temperature sterilization equipment critical for improving product quality, and four enterprises have achieved an annual output value of over 50 million yuan. These key leading enterprises have played an important role in enhancing the overall quality, visibility, and market share of Yuyao Pickled Mustard Greens. 　　Yuyao northern pickled mustard greens differ from those produced in Sichuan: Sichuan varieties are spring-planted and autumn-harvested, while Yuyao’s are autumn-planted and spring-harvested. Sichuan mustard greens are grown on mountain slopes, whereas Yuyao’s are cultivated in the fertile, soft soil of coastal plains. Thanks to the fertile soil, abundant rainfall, winter growth, frost exposure during the growing period, and meticulous farming by local growers, Yuyao-produced mustard greens are round, large, especially tender, crisp in texture, enjoy high market share, and yield good profits—driving rapid development in the mustard greens planting industry. After nearly forty years, as of November 2008, the planting area had exceeded 100,000 mu, producing 1 billion jin of fresh mustard greens annually, with a farming population of over 150,000. The small-packaged pickled mustard greens are highly convenient for travelers to carry and enjoy, and they also make an excellent dish for home consumption. [2]