Mengyin Honey Peach

Mengyin Honey Peach

Mengyin Honey Peach is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Mengyin Honey Peach is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Mengyin County has 650,000 mu of honey peach orchards, with an annual output of 950 million kilograms and a production value of 2.8 billion yuan. Eighty percent of the county’s mountainous and hilly areas are planted with honey peaches, 80% of fruit farmers’ income comes from honey peaches, 70% of villages are specialized in honey peach production, and the per capita fruit income of fruit farmers is 5,500 yuan. Honey peaches are available on the market from early spring to early winter, and are sold to most parts of China, accounting for 60% of the southern market share. Mengyin Honey Peach has been rated as a “China Famous Fruit” and a “National Geographical Indication Agricultural Product.” Mengyin County has become a “China High-Quality Peach Base County” and is known as the “Honey Peach Capital of China.”

　　Geographical Scope

　　Mengyin County is a purely mountainous area, with an average elevation of 315.8 meters. The annual sunshine duration is 2,257 hours, with a sunshine percentage of 52%; the total annual radiation is 115.8 kilocalories per square centimeter. Early-maturing varieties are mainly sold to Beijing, Tianjin, and the three northeastern provinces; mid- and late-maturing varieties are primarily sold to Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Fujian, Guangdong, and other regions.

　　Unique Quality

　　There are many varieties of honey peaches produced in Mengyin. They are named for their “vibrant color, delicate flesh, sweet juice like honey, large size, and fragrant taste.”

　　Cultural Anecdotes

　　After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Mengyin Honey Peach went through three important development periods. Among them, 1995–2007 was a time of rapid and large-scale development. The cultivation area expanded from 110,000 mu in 1995 to 500,000 mu in 2007, with 240,000 mu of peach trees developed in the six years from 1995 to 2002, which are now in their peak fruiting period. Of the 150,000 mu of newly developed peach trees from 2003 to 2007, 50,000 mu have entered the peak fruiting period, and the remaining 100,000 mu will also reach maximum yield in 2–3 years. It is estimated that the total peach output of the county will exceed 1 billion kilograms by 2010. It is truly worthy of the title “Honey Peach Capital of China.”

　　Geographical Scope

　　The geographical protection area of Mengyin Honey Peach is within Mengyin County, Shandong Province. The geographical coordinates are: 117°15′–117°45′ east longitude, 35°27′–36°02′ north latitude, stretching 64.9 km from north to south and 45.8 km from east to west. The protected area covers 158,753 hectares, with a production area of 33,300 hectares, an annual output of 1.25 million tons, and a production value of 1.3 billion yuan. It mainly involves towns in Mengyin County such as Mengyin, Liancheng, Changlu, Gaodu, Yedian, Dai’gu, Tanbu, Jiuzhai, Taoxu, Jiepai, and Duozhuang, encompassing a total of 464 administrative villages.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: Mengyin County is predominantly mountainous and hilly, accounting for 94% of the total area. The southern part belongs to the mid-mountain hilly region of Mengshan, the central part to the Yishu River Valley Plain, and the northern part to the low mountain hilly region of Yishu. The main producing areas have mainly brown soil, with measured organic matter content of over 1.0%, hydrolyzable nitrogen of 75 mg/kg, available phosphorus of 22 mg/kg, available potassium greater than 60 mg/kg, and a pH value of around 6. The soil is deep, loose, and has strong water and nutrient retention capabilities, making it suitable for fruit tree growth.

　　(2) Hydrology: The area has well-developed water conservancy facilities, abundant groundwater resources, complete farmland irrigation and drainage systems, clear and unpolluted water quality, capable of both drought irrigation and flood drainage.

　　(3) Climate: The region has a warm temperate monsoon climate, characterized by mild weather, distinct seasons, cold and dry winters with little rain or snow, dry and windy springs, hot and rainy summers, and cool, clear autumns with large diurnal temperature variations—conditions favorable for the growth and development of fruit trees.

　　Sunlight: The region enjoys abundant sunlight resources, long daylight hours, and ample sunshine, which are beneficial for photosynthesis.

　　The average annual sunshine duration is 2,482.9 hours, accounting for 56% of the total possible sunshine time in a year.

　　Temperature: The annual accumulated temperature is 4,855.5°C, with an average temperature of 12.8°C. The highest temperature is 32.1°C in July, and the lowest is -3.2°C in January. The frost-free period lasts about 210 days, and the natural farming period extends to approximately 290 days. Cool nights and large diurnal temperature differences are conducive to nutrient accumulation in fruit trees.

　　Water: The average annual precipitation is 600–1,000 mm, mostly concentrated in July and August.

　　(4) Humanistic and Historical Background: Mengyin Honey Peach has a cultivation history of over 2,000 years. According to the “Yizhou Annals” from the 36th year of the Ming Dynasty Wanli era (1608), peaches were ranked first among fruits. The “Mengyin County Annals” from the 11th year of the Kangxi era (1672) listed peaches as one of the important local products. The Taoshu (peach tree) resources in the Yishan Mountain area are abundant. The Mengyin Taoxu built during the Tang Dynasty and the Mengyin Yingxian Bridge built during the Ming Dynasty both feature stone carvings of longevity peaches, reflecting the long history of peach cultivation. The high quality, high yield, and enduring popularity of Mengyin Honey Peach are related to its long historical roots.

　　After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Mengyin Honey Peach went through three development periods. The first was from the founding of New China to the mid-1980s, a period of slow development, with main varieties including April Half, May Red, and Shanghai Honey. Mengyin County introduced Hanlu Honey Peach, which formed a scale in Dai’gu and Jiuzhai, becoming the origin variety for the rapid development of honey peaches in Mengyin. The second period was from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, a time of rapid development. The area expanded from 67 hectares in 1980 to 1,900 hectares in 1995. The third period was from the late 1990s to the present, a time of large-scale rapid development. In 1995, Mengyin County became the top peach-producing county in Linyi City. By 2003, the area increased by 570.3%, and production rose by 425.6%. The area reached 33,000 hectares, and production hit 840 million kilograms, ranking first among peach-producing counties and districts nationwide.

　　In 2002, the Mengyin County Party Committee and County Government actively established 300,000 mu of pollution-free fruit production bases across the county, including 150,000 mu of honey peaches. In November 2004, the bases passed the inspection and acceptance organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant experts. The county was designated as a National Pollution-Free Agricultural Product (Fruit) Production Demonstration Base County, further enhancing the quality and benefits of Mengyin Honey Peach. Brands such as “Mengyin,” “Yimeng Six Sisters,” and “Mengyuan” honey peaches are sold across fruit markets nationwide, with brands like “Mengyin” and “Yimeng Six Sisters” certified as pollution-free agricultural products.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Origin Selection and Special Provisions: The origin of Mengyin Honey Peach must have land that can be irrigated in drought and drained in floods, with pollution-free soil and irrigation water, located away from factories and mines, and meeting national health environmental quality standards.

　　(2) Variety Selection and Specific Requirements: There are over 100 varieties of Mengyin Honey Peach under cultivation, with nearly 30 forming significant production volumes. Representative varieties include early- to mid-season varieties such as Shazao Zaosheng, Zaobai Feng, Zaokuubo, Cangfang Zaosheng, and Xinchuan Zhongdao; mid-season varieties such as Zhaohui, Qiufeng Mi, and Laishan Mi; and late-season varieties such as Hanlu Mi, Beijing No. 9, and Zhonghua Shoutao. Honey peaches account for over 95% of total output. With the establishment and development of the processing industry, the planting scale of processing yellow peach varieties has gradually expanded.

　　(3) Production Process Management, including agricultural inputs and production management.

　　(3) Production process management, including agricultural inputs and production management.

　　Soil Management: Conduct deep plowing in winter to achieve an active soil layer of over 60 cm, and frequently hoe in summer to maintain loose soil. Implement grass planting, mulching, and grass burial in orchards to improve soil structure, increase organic matter content, and enhance fertility.

　　Scientific Fertilization: Use organic fertilizer as the primary fertilizer, applying 2 pounds of fertilizer for every 1 pound of fruit. Apply additional fertilizer in three stages: before bud break, during fruit enlargement, and one month before harvest, focusing on phosphorus and potassium fertilizers with an application rate of 15 kg per mu. The use of nitrate nitrogen fertilizers and chloride-based fertilizers is prohibited.

　　Timely Irrigation and Drainage: Determine irrigation timing based on the season and soil moisture content. Irrigate before bud break, after flowering, and during the hardening stage according to soil moisture conditions. Apply pre-winter freezing water in early winter, and minimize irrigation before harvest for late-maturing varieties to prevent fruit cracking. Peach tree roots are sensitive to waterlogging, so ensure timely drainage during the rainy season.

　　Rational Pruning and Shaping: Common tree forms include natural open-center, delayed open-center, and Y-shaped. Winter pruning focuses on thinning branches and long pruning, with moderate heading-back and short pruning to revitalize the tree. In summer, remove dense and vigorous shoots to improve ventilation and light penetration, aiding fruit coloration.

　　Flower and Fruit Management: Perform artificial pollination during the flowering period. For low-fruit-setting varieties such as Changfang Zaosheng, Zaokuubo, and Chuanzhongdao, artificial pollination is used to improve fruit set. Thin flower buds before flowering, thin fruits two weeks after flowering, and finalize fruit retention after physiological fruit drop. For large fruits, maintain a spacing of 15–20 cm; for small fruits, about 15 cm. All mid-to-late maturing varieties should be bagged, with bagging done from late May to mid-June and bags removed about 20 days before harvest.

　　Integrated Pest and Disease Management: Use manual, physical, and biological methods to control pests and diseases, reducing the frequency of chemical pesticide applications and fully protecting natural enemies. The use of highly toxic and high-residue pesticides is strictly prohibited. Promote the use of low-toxicity, low-residue pesticides or biological pesticides, keeping the number of sprayings during the growing season to around five.

　　Timely Harvesting, Grading, Packaging, and Fresh-Keeping Transport: Harvest according to variety characteristics, then grade and package for market or pre-cool in cold storage before sale. Packaging materials must be clean, hygienic, non-toxic, and odorless, with labels indicating variety, origin, trademark, and pollution-free agricultural product certification for export.

　　Typical Quality Characteristics and Product Quality Safety Standards

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics:

　　Freshness: Fresh and clean, with no abnormal external moisture.

　　Fruit Shape: Possesses the basic characteristics of the variety.

　　Color: Displays the inherent color of the variety at maturity, with coloring covering at least 25% of the expected area.

　　Flavor: Has the unique flavor of the variety, with no off-odors.

　　Fruit Surface Damage: Total area of mechanical damage such as hail or rubbing marks does not exceed 2 cm².

　　Rot: None.

　　Flesh Browning: None.

　　Uniformity: Fruit weight variation does not exceed 5% of the average weight.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators:

　　Mengyin Honey Peaches are rich in nutrients, with soluble solids content between 10.2% and 17.5%. Testing shows each 100g of peach contains 9–10g of sugar, 0.45mg of organic acid, 0.8g of protein, 0.1g of fat, 39.9mg of phosphorus, 157.5mg of potassium, 6.6mg of calcium, 14.8mg of magnesium, 0.5mg of iron, 5mg of vitamin C, 0.06mg of vitamin A, along with various amino acids, earning it the nickname "Longevity Peach."

　　(3) Safety Requirements:

　　Mengyin Honey Peaches must meet the hygiene standards for "Pollution-Free Peaches" set by the Ministry of Agriculture (see table below). Those falling under the circumstances outlined in Article 33 of the Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Law may not be sold.

　　Packaging and Labeling Regulations

　　Immediately after harvesting, peaches are sorted and graded according to quality standards, then packaged and inspected. For those protected under agricultural product geographical indication registration, the label "Mengyin Honey Peach" geographical indication must be included.