Lincheng Thin-Skinned Walnuts

Lincheng Thin-Skinned Walnuts

Lincheng Thin-Skinned Walnuts is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Lincheng County is located at the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains, where mountainous and hilly areas account for 85.2% of the county’s total area. The soil is primarily composed of gneiss, with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH and rich in calcium. These soil conditions are ideal for growing thin-skinned walnuts. These walnuts can be easily opened by hand without any tools, making them convenient to eat. They have fragrant flesh and are high in fat, protein, as well as essential elements such as calcium and iron. They offer benefits for brain health and cognitive function, are highly nutritious, and have become a trendy food item.

　　　　Lincheng County began introducing thin-skinned walnut varieties in 1999, scaled up promotion in 2000, and saw initial returns on investment by 2003. This led to the formation of a thin-skinned walnut production base centered around companies such as Luling, Lulei, and Xinhuitong, covering eight townships across the county. By 2009, the county’s thin-skinned walnut production reached 560,000 kilograms, with an output value of over 22 million yuan. To date, the thin-skinned walnut cultivation area in Lincheng has expanded to over 100,000 mu, with more than 10,000 mu entering their prime fruit-bearing period. The expected total output is 800,000 kilograms, with an output value of over 32 million yuan. The thin-skinned walnut industry has become the largest, most profitable, and most promising forestry pillar and specialty industry in Lincheng County. It has also established the largest high-quality thin-skinned walnut production base in northern China.

　　　　Lincheng County has been recognized as the “China Leading County for High-Quality Thin-Skinned Walnut Industry.” In 2006, it was designated by the provincial government as a provincial-level demonstration county for the “One County, One Industry, One Park” agricultural science and technology demonstration project. In 2007, the launch ceremony for the Hebei Province Poverty Alleviation and Development Thin-Skinned Walnut Industry Belt in the Taihang Mountain Area was held in Lincheng County. In 2008, the Lincheng County High-Quality Thin-Skinned Walnut Industry Demonstration Base was certified as a National Taihang Mountain Spark Industry Belt Thin-Skinned Walnut Demonstration Base. In 2009, Lincheng County was named the “Hometown of Walnuts in China.” Hebei Luling Fruit Industry Co., Ltd., the leading company in Lincheng’s thin-skinned walnut development, has been awarded titles such as “Key Agricultural Industrialization Leading Enterprise of Hebei Province,” “National Industrialization Poverty Alleviation Leading Enterprise,” and “Key Forestry and Fruit Industry Leading Enterprise of Hebei Province.” In 2006, Luling thin-skinned walnuts won gold awards at both the “China·Hebei Third International Specialty Agriculture Premium Products Exhibition” and the “Hebei First Famous and High-Quality Fruit Evaluation Exhibition.” In 2007, at the China International Forestry Expo, the “Luling” brand thin-skinned walnuts were honored as “Olympic Recommended Fruits” and won a gold award. They were also certified as “Green Food – Product” by the China Green Food Development Center, won a gold award at the “2007 Hebei·Shijiazhuang Specialty Agricultural Products Exhibition and Evaluation,” and the “Luling” brand trademark was recognized as a Famous Trademark of Hebei Province. In 2008, the “Luling” brand thin-skinned walnuts were certified as organic conversion products, and in 2010, they were certified as “Organic Products.”

　　　　According to the “Lincheng County 2010–2015 Thin-Skinned Walnut Industry Development Plan,” by 2015, the county’s thin-skinned walnut planting area will reach 200,000 mu. Once all plantations reach their prime fruit-bearing period, the total output value is projected to reach 1.2 billion yuan based on current prices, with a net profit of 900 million yuan. This development is expected to create employment opportunities for over 50,000 people and increase per capita income across the county by more than 4,300 yuan.