Yinan Cucumber

Yinan Cucumber

Yinan Cucumber is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Yinan Cucumber is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　In 1997, the Shandong Provincial Information Center recognized Yinan County as the largest summer and autumn cucumber production base in China. The large-scale cultivation of cucumbers as a vegetable began in Yinan County in the late 1980s. At that time, autumn cucumbers were the main focus, with fewer summer cucumbers being grown. In 1992, farmers in Sucun, Xiji, Hutou, Yiwen, Zhujiazhuang, and other areas began large-scale, intensive cultivation of summer and autumn cucumbers. That year, the county planted cucumbers on approximately 1,800 mu. Due to the high yield of greenhouse cucumbers, which could replenish the fresh vegetable supply during the off-season, they sold quickly and fetched high prices. Local authorities began actively promoting and supporting plastic greenhouse cucumber cultivation, which spurred the development of winter and spring cucumber production in the county. By 1997, summer cucumber cultivation had also seen rapid growth, with about 10,000 mu planted, yielding approximately 180 million jin of cucumbers. By 1999, the county had about 110,000 mu of cucumber cultivation, producing over 1 billion jin of cucumbers annually. Of these, around 20,000 mu were summer cucumbers, with a total output of over 160 million jin; autumn cucumbers covered more than 50,000 mu, yielding over 500 million jin. In mid-August of that year, the maximum daily market volume of Yinan autumn cucumbers was around 2 million jin, with the Yinan County Vegetable Wholesale Market in Sucun alone handling about 1 million jin per day, at a price of 0.4–0.5 yuan per jin. Vehicles from other regions came in an endless stream to purchase cucumbers at the wholesale market. Yinan cucumbers are straight, dark-colored, sweet, and have flowers and spines still attached. Particularly the summer and autumn varieties, they are renowned nationwide for their high yields and excellent quality. Yinan cucumbers are sold in over 100 large and medium-sized cities across more than 20 provinces in China and are also exported to Southeast Asia.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Yinan County is located in the southeastern part of Shandong Province, stretching 54 kilometers from east to west and 47 kilometers from north to south, with a total area of 1,774 square kilometers. The geographical protection area of "Yinan Cucumber" covers Yinan County, Shandong Province, extending east to Hutou Town, west to Andi Town, south to Zhuangbu Town, and north to Andi Town. It includes 14 towns, 210 administrative villages, and a population of 318,000. The geographical coordinates are between 118°07′–118°43′ east longitude and 35°19′–35°46′ north latitude, with an altitude ranging from 60 to 600 meters. The protected cultivation area spans 23,300 hectares, with a total production area of 350,000 mu and an annual production volume of 2.25 million tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: Yinan cucumbers are crisp, sweet, fragrant, dark-colored, straight, and produced in large quantities with excellent quality. Particularly the summer and autumn varieties are famous nationwide for their high yields and superior quality. Freshness: Fresh and clean, with no abnormal external moisture. Color: Possesses the inherent mature color of the variety, with a deep green hue. Flavor: Has the unique flavor of the variety, with tender, fine, and dense green flesh. No rot. Uniformity: Short stems, dense spines, straight shape, with length variation not exceeding 5% of the average length. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Yinan cucumbers are crisp, sweet, fragrant, dark-colored, straight, with flowers and spines still attached, and offer a great taste when eaten raw. They are nutritionally rich, with each 100 grams containing ≤96.0g water, ≥1.58g total sugar, ≥15mg calcium, ≥29mg phosphorus, ≥0.15mg iron, and ≥11mg vitamin C. Additionally, they contain glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, fructose, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, various free amino acids, volatile oils, cucurbitacin, and cucumber enzymes, delivering a fragrant, crisp, and sweet taste. Their standout feature is a significantly higher sugar content compared to cucumbers from other regions, resulting in a crisp, sweet, and fragrant taste when eaten raw. 3. Safety Requirements: ① Export products are tested according to the requirements of the importing country. ② According to the "Pesticide Management Regulations of the People's Republic of China," highly and extremely toxic pesticides are prohibited in cucumber production and must not be detected. ③ Cucumber producers must report the types of pesticides used when their cucumbers are tested. Failure to report, concealing, or providing false information will result in the product being deemed non-compliant. ④ "Yinan Cucumbers" must meet the hygiene standards for "Green Food Cucumbers" set by the Ministry of Agriculture. Products that fall under the circumstances outlined in Article 33 of the "Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Law" may not be sold on the market.