Baojia Celery

Baojia Celery

Baojia Celery is a product with geographical indication.

　　  Celery is divided into two main types: the Chinese (local) type and the European/American (Western) type. The Western type, also known as celery, is a variety of the plant. Many foreign cultivars have been introduced and promoted in large coastal cities. The Western type differs significantly in appearance from the local Chinese type. Local celery has slender, often hollow petioles, more fiber, and a strong aroma, mainly used for stir-frying or flavoring. Western (celery) has thick, fleshy, solid stems that are very crisp, with a mild aroma and sweet taste. Its texture is not as robust as local celery. It is mainly eaten raw but can also be stir-fried, juiced, or processed into canned products. Baojia Celery gets its name from its origin in Baojia Village, Xinzhai Township, Zhangqiu City, Shandong Province, and naturally belongs to the local type. Its medicinal, dietary, and culinary uses need no elaboration.

　　  Characteristics of Baojia Celery:

　　  Baojia Village is located on the alluvial plain of the Yellow River, at an elevation of 25 meters. The terrain is flat, the soil is fertile, the average temperature is 12.8°C, and the four seasons are distinct. The frost-free period lasts 185–209 days, with annual rainfall of 570–630 millimeters, mostly concentrated in summer. The soil is a mix of white sand and clay, rich in minerals such as zinc, copper, iron, manganese, iodine, calcium, magnesium, and sodium. Baojia Village is a traditional agricultural village with no polluting industries such as mining, machinery processing, or chemical manufacturing. As a result, the water quality and air in Baojia Village remain unpolluted. Human factors, climate, rainfall, humidity, and soil all provide an ideal growing environment for Baojia Celery.

　　  Baojia Celery has a long history. According to the *Zhangqiu Place Names Record* and the genealogies of the Liu and Wan families: “During the Yuan Dynasty, the Bao family established the village here, naming it after their surname,” marking over a thousand years of history. In the fifth year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1855), the Yellow River breached its banks into Shandong, diverting into the Daqing River and then the sea. The Xiaoqing River also became silted up, making flood discharge from its tributaries even more difficult. Additionally, the section from Baojia’s Wanjia Kou, through Gaojiazhuang and Laohexiayá, to Liutangkou had higher terrain. The upstream sections had abundant water and fertile soil, suitable for growing celery. This indicates that by the Qing Dynasty, Baojia was already cultivating celery on a large scale. Over centuries of selecting and improving the best strains, the ancestors of Baojia Village developed a solid-stemmed variety called “Daqingjie” (now known as Baoqin). Especially in recent years, increased investment in technology has led to cultivation following organic food production standards—all organic fertilizer is applied, milk is sprayed as foliar feed, and high-frequency vibrating insecticidal lamps and sticky traps are used to control pests. The produce grows naturally as a green food under sunlight. The product is packaged in boxes, mainly categorized into three types: whole plant, core, and sprout. It is sold to the provincial capital and major cities across the country, where demand exceeds supply. “Baojia Celery” obtained organic conversion product certification from the Ministry of Agriculture on January 14, 2009. Baojia Celery plants are tall, with emerald-green color, thick and tender stems, a crisp and slightly sweet taste upon biting, and no strings or residue left after chewing. The core can be eaten raw, offering a rich celery aroma, a refreshing mouthfeel, and endless aftertaste. It is a rare variety among local celery types, suitable for various cooking methods. There is even a saying: “Baoqin isn’t as expensive as abalone, but abalone doesn’t taste as good as Baoqin,” making it a standout among celery varieties. Zhangqiu’s Giant Green Onion, Mingshui Tribute Rice, and Baojia Celery are hailed as the “Three Treasures of Zhangqiu.” “Zhangqiu’s Giant Green Onion is famous worldwide, while Baojia Celery’s fragrance wafts across the seas” is a true depiction of Baojia Celery.

　　  Development of Baojia Celery:

　　  Baojia Village has over 200 vegetable-growing households. For many years, there was a lack of effective organization, and celery growers planted sporadically in small “kitchen garden” plots, resulting in low efficiency. However, some skilled vegetable growers in the village studied the market carefully and improved cultivation management, leading to continuously enhanced quality and profitability, which attracted more villagers to grow vegetables. Upon learning of this situation, the local government seized the opportunity to provide strong support and guidance. Under the leadership of governments at all levels, the Baojia Vegetable Professional Cooperative and the Shuangxin Baojia Celery Planting Professional Cooperative (dedicated to Baoqin) were established. A standardized Baojia Celery production base was also built, which was included in Jinan’s modern agricultural characteristic brand base in 2009. After CCTV-7’s *Getting Rich* program learned about this, it produced an episode titled *Revealing Why Celery Costs 90 Yuan per Jin (Part 1)*, sparking a nationwide buying craze for Baoqin. Even more excitingly, Baoqin made an appearance at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and was included in the menu of the Kong Family Feast. Governments at all levels have also strongly supported this premium agricultural specialty, aiming to make Baoqin a renowned product both nationally and globally in the future.

　　  Baojia Celery: Celery, also known as Chu Kui, became a widely consumed vegetable among common people as early as the pre-Qin period and was referred to as an “ancient delicacy and the ancestor of Chinese vegetables.” Baojia Celery is an excellent variety of Chinese celery with strong regional characteristics. It is produced in Baojia Village, Xinzhai Town, Zhangqiu City, and has over 1,000 years of planting history. Baojia Celery features tall plants, bright green color, thick and tender stems, a crisp and slightly sweet taste upon biting, no strings or residue after chewing, and a core that can be eaten raw to refresh the mouth. It is suitable for various cooking methods and stands out among celery varieties, earning the reputation that “eating abalone is not as good as eating Baoqin.”

　　  Geographical Scope

　　  The protected geographical area for Baojia Celery covers two towns in Zhangqiu City, Shandong Province: Xinzhai and Diaozhen. The geographical coordinates are: longitude 117°25′57″ to 117°34′53″ and latitude 36°50′16″ to 36°58′28″. The protected area spans 13,136 hectares, with an annual yield of 150,000 tons. It mainly involves 97 administrative villages, including Baojia, Yizhang, Nantaiping, Qingyanglin, Fengjia, and Hujia in Xinzhai Town, and Daokou, Shidong, Shixi, Wangsan, Wangsi, and Cuigao in Diaozhen Town.

　　  Product Quality Characteristics

　　  1. External Sensory Characteristics: Baojia Celery features tall plants, green leaves and stems, a rich celery aroma, and solid, stringless stalks. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Baojia Celery is highly nutritious. Its internal quality indicators include: crude fiber ≤0.9%, vitamin C ≥15 (mg/100g), calcium ≥145 (mg/100g), phosphorus ≥50 (mg/100g), potassium ≥160 (mg/100g). It also contains abundant essential elements for humans such as calcium, iron, and carotene, along with celery oil, which has a unique aromatic scent that stimulates appetite. 3. Product Quality: The production environment of Baojia Celery must comply with the requirements of the *Technical Conditions for the Environment of Green Food Production Areas* (NY/T391-2000). Baojia Celery entering the market must meet the quality standards of the Ministry of Agriculture’s *Green Food Leafy Vegetables* (NY/T743-2003). Products falling under the circumstances specified in Article 33 of the *Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Law* may not be sold on the market.