Fuhe Tribute Chinese Cabbage

Fuhe Tribute Chinese Cabbage

Fuhe Tribute Chinese Cabbage is a product with geographical indication.

　　Owing to the distinctive soil and climatic conditions on both sides of the Fuhe River in Pingxiang, the local “Tribute Cabbage” has milky-white juice, a sweet taste, and cooks tenderly, earning its selection as an imperial tribute during the Qing Dynasty. This “Tribute Cabbage” yields around 10,000 kg per mu, 2,000–3,000 kg more than common cabbage, and sells for double the market price. Due to its superior quality, it is available in major supermarkets such as Beijing Hualian and Shijiazhuang Beiguo, and has been registered as a geographical indication product with the Ministry of Agriculture.

　　Fuhe Tribute Chinese Cabbage is grown only along both banks of the Fuhe River in Pingxiang County. The area's soil is rich in organic matter, with suitable temperature, altitude, and sunlight, producing cabbages that are “milky-white, sweet, and tender when cooked.” The Qing Dynasty text *Plant Names and Realities Illustrated* described it as “a divine vegetable, and rightly so,” and it was chosen as an imperial tribute, hence its esteemed title of “Tribute Cabbage.” In Pingxiang, there’s a saying: “Live near the Fuhe River, and never worry about food or drink. Eat Tribute Cabbage, and stay free from illness and disaster.”

　　However, traditional “Tribute Cabbage” faced issues such as low yield, aging varieties, and pest susceptibility, severely impacting both cultivation and farmers’ incomes. To solve this, local agricultural departments used traditional varieties like the “Xiaobao Tou” cabbage to conduct purification, hybridization, and selective breeding, eventually developing five superior varieties including Fuhe Tribute No. 1 and Fuhe Tribute No. 2. The “Fuhe Tribute” trademark was successfully registered with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and these varieties are now widely cultivated along the Fuhe River.

　　In the cultivation of “Tribute Cabbage,” the county adopts pollution-free farming techniques, supplements with calcium fertilizer, and uses low-toxicity, highly effective biological pesticides that evaporate within ten days of application, thereby preserving the cabbage’s quality. Meanwhile, Pingxiang County actively coordinates with various functional departments and agricultural experts to provide rigorous, standardized guidance and full technical support throughout the cultivation process, ensuring high cabbage quality.

　　According to statistics, by 2012, the protected area for Pingxiang Fuhe Tribute Chinese Cabbage covered 10,290 mu, with a perennial planting scale maintained at around 2,000 mu.

　　In accordance with the *Administrative Measures for Geographical Indications of Agricultural Products*, the Fuhe Tribute Vegetable Planting Association of Pingxiang County, Hebei Province, applied for geographical indication protection for “Fuhe Tribute Chinese Cabbage.” After preliminary review, expert evaluation, and public notice, it met the procedures and criteria for registration, and the Ministry of Agriculture approved the registration on May 2, 2012.

　　I. Specific Production Region

　　Pingxiang Fuhe Tribute Chinese Cabbage is produced in selected villages across three townships along the Fuhe River in Pingxiang County: Pingzhen Township, Jiegou Township, and Youzhao Township. The protected area spans geographic coordinates from 114°54′61″E to 114°06′61″E and 36°59′57.9″N to 37°06′33.61″N, covering a total of 38 administrative villages. The protected production area is 10,290 mu, with a perennial planting scale maintained at around 2,000 mu.

　　II. Unique Natural Environment

　　1. Soil and Topography

　　The terrain is flat, with deep, fertile soil of moderate texture. The dominant soil type is moist loam, with a pH between 7.5–8.2. The arable layer contains an average of 1.26% organic matter, 83.7 ppm alkaline-hydrolyzable nitrogen, 12.6 ppm available phosphorus, and 198 ppm available potassium. These conditions provide a naturally and geographically superior advantage for growing high-quality Chinese cabbage.

　　2. Hydrological Conditions

　　Groundwater irrigation is used, with abundant water resources, favorable hydraulic conditions, and pure, unpolluted, high-quality water—ideal for both agricultural production and daily life. These conditions favor the cultivation of premium Chinese cabbage.

　　3. Climatic Conditions

　　Pingxiang County enjoys superior natural conditions, featuring a warm temperate continental monsoon climate with ample light and heat, distinct seasons, accumulated temperatures above 10°C reaching 4,495.2°C, annual sunshine of 2,439.5 hours, initial frost in late October, final frost in late March, a frost-free period of 202 days, and average annual precipitation of 519.3 mm. The significant day-night temperature variation during the cabbage growth season is ideal for producing high-quality Chinese cabbage.

　　III. Specific Production Methods

　　1. Specific Production Location Selection

　　The suitable production areas for Pingxiang Fuhe Tribute Chinese Cabbage cover 38 administrative villages across three townships in Pingxiang County: Pingzhen, Jiegou, and Youzhao.

　　2. Unique Variety Selection

　　Locally traditional high-quality cabbage varieties such as Fuhe Xiaobao Tou and Ju Hua Ding were purified, revitalized, and hybridized to develop two mid-to-late maturing, high-quality, disease-resistant, high-yield, and storable cabbage varieties: “Fuhe Tribute No. 1” and “Fuhe Tribute No. 2,” well-suited for cultivation in the county.

　　3. Strict Production Process Management

　　The production of Fuhe Tribute Chinese Cabbage strictly follows the *Fuhe Tribute Chinese Cabbage Production Operation Procedures*. The use of pesticides and fertilizers complies with the *Green Food Pesticide Use Guidelines* (NY/T393-2000) and *Green Food Fertilizer Use Guidelines* (NY/T394-2000).

　　① Land Preparation and Ridge Making: Before sowing, water is applied to moisten the soil and sufficient base fertilizer is applied. Rational crop rotation is practiced, preferably with allium crops in the previous season for their bactericidal or bacteriostatic properties. Melons and legumes may also be chosen, but cruciferous plants must not be used. Under medium fertility conditions, no less than 3,000 kg of high-quality organic fertilizer per mu is applied. High ridges are used for cultivation to facilitate drainage and reduce pests and diseases.

　　② Timely Topdressing: To improve the internal quality of the cabbage, the first topdressing involves applying a homemade organic-inorganic mixed fertilizer after thinning. For each mu, 100 kg of fermented soybean meal and 20 kg of NPK compound fertilizer are mixed and applied in rows, effectively enhancing cabbage quality. The second topdressing occurs during the rosette stage, with 10 kg of urea per mu. As fieldwork is easier at this stage, row application is preferred. For larger areas or labor shortages, broadcasting before watering can be done, though the amount should be increased by about 20%. The third topdressing takes place before head formation. Since the cabbage closes the rows, row application is not possible, so the fertilizer is dissolved in irrigation water, using double the previous amount. No quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer should be used within 20 days of harvest.

　　③ Water Management: Generally, during seedling stages in drought, hoeing is increased to encourage root growth (i.e., hardening off the seedlings). In rainy conditions, drainage ditches are managed to prevent waterlogging. However, in the later rosette stage, the cabbage’s water demand increases sharply. The soil surface should be kept moist until 10–15 days before harvest to aid storage.

　　④ Pest and Disease Control: Prevention-first and integrated pest management principles are applied. Major pests and diseases include aphids, cabbage worms, soft rot, downy mildew, and viral diseases. Cabbage worms are controlled with low-toxicity pesticides such as BT emulsion, abamectin, and lambda-cyhalothrin. Aphids are treated with 10% imidacloprid or acetamiprid sprays. Downy mildew is managed with broad-spectrum fungicides like metalaxyl, chlorothalonil, and fosetyl-aluminum. Viral diseases are addressed early with sprays of 20% Virus A wettable powder (500x dilution) or 1.5% Plant Virus Cure emulsion (1000x), applied every 7–10 days for 2–3 consecutive sprays. Soft rot is treated early with sprays of 72% agricultural streptomycin or kasugamycin, applied every 10 days for 2–3 consecutive times.

　　4. Storage

　　Freshly harvested Chinese cabbage needs to be sun-dried in the field until the outer leaves wilt before it can be stored. If stored properly, it can still be used the following year.

　　IV. Unique Product Quality

　　The Fuhé Tribute Chinese Cabbage from Pingxiang County owes its excellent quality characteristics to its unique natural ecological environment and specific production methods.

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: The heads are tightly and roundly formed, with fresh color, abundant soft leaves, uniform size, pure white color, attractive appearance, and typically weigh around 5 kilograms per head.

　　2. Internal Quality Indicators: This product underwent quality testing by PONY Testing Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. on January 21, 2011, commissioned by the National Agricultural Products Quality and Safety Center of the Ministry of Agriculture. Compared to ordinary Chinese cabbage, Pingxiang Fuhé Tribute Chinese Cabbage has a vitamin C content as high as 41.6 mg/100g—twice that of regular cabbage. It also shows significantly higher levels of soluble sugar, calcium, dietary crude fiber, fat, glutamic acid, etc., offering certain nutritional and medicinal value. It is a rare variety of Chinese cabbage both domestically and internationally.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Fuhé Tribute Chinese Cabbage is produced in certain villages along both banks of the Fuyang River in three townships of Pingxiang County: Pingzhen Township, Jiegü Township, and Youzhao Township. Starting from Xiazhuang Bridge and moving northward along the Fuyang River to Lilongzhuang, the villages involved include Xiazhuang Bridge, Chaixinzhuang, Xintun, Qianmazhuang, Houmazhuang, Huangzhuang, Xiwangzhuang, Maiwangzhuang, Wangliuzhuang, Haozhuang, Xutianzhuang, Qiantianzhuang, Houtianzhuang, Zhantianzhuang, Qianyouzhao, Dayouzhao, Youzhao Bridge, Ma'ertuan, Zhang'ertuan, Shi'ertuan, Tian'ertuan, Kong'ertuan, Donglaizhongtuan, Liyang Village, Wangyang Village, Shenyang Village, Yinzhuan Bridge, Dongyin Village, Xiyin Village, Xiaojia Wan, Xili Village, Dongdou Village, Xidou Village, Zou Village, Nanzhouzhang, Beizhouzhang, Jiazhouzhang, and Beicui Village—totaling 38 villages. The geographical coordinates are between 114°06′61″ to 114°54′61″ east longitude and 36°59′57.9″ to 37°06′33.61″ north latitude, at an elevation of 32 meters. The protected area spans 10,290 mu, with a planting area of 2,000 mu and an annual yield of 10,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristic Features

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: The heads are tightly formed, with white leaf stems, tender green leaves, and abundant soft leaves; they have a fresh color, uniform size, and attractive appearance. Typically, each clean single head weighs about 5 kilograms, tastes delicious, is fresh and tender, pleasantly sweet, and cooks down easily.