Fushan Big Cherries

Fushan Big Cherries

Fushan Big Cherries is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Fushan Big Cherries is a product certified with geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　The cultivation of Fushan Big Cherries began in the 1870s and has a history of 130 years to date. Among deciduous fruit trees in northern China, Fushan Big Cherries are the earliest to ripen, earning them the reputation as the “First Spring Fruit of the North” and “Treasure Among Fruits.”

　　Fushan Big Cherries currently cover an area of 100,000 mu, accounting for 20% of the national planting area; the yield is 22 million kilograms, making up 15% of the national total. Major varieties include Hongdeng, Xianfeng, Rainier, Lapins, Meizao, Samith, and Stela. Greenhouse cherries hit the market as early as early April, while open-field cherries are available in mid-May. The products are sold to Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macau, and major cities across China. In 1995, at the Second China Agricultural Fair, Fushan District’s cherries won 3 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze medals; in 1996, the China Agricultural Specialties Naming Committee awarded Fushan District the title “Hometown of Chinese Big Cherries”; in 1997 and 1999, Fushan Big Cherries were consecutively honored as “China Famous-Brand Products”; in 2003, they were again named “Hometown of Chinese Big Cherries” by the China Association of Quality Agricultural Products Development and Service; in 2000, Fushan’s “Fuyang” Big Cherries were certified as “Green Food” by the National Green Food Committee, and received the corresponding certificate. The reputation and market reach of Fushan Big Cherries continue to grow both internationally and domestically.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The protected production area of Fushan Big Cherries is within Fushan District, Yantai City, Shandong Province. The geographical coordinates are: 37°14′–37°39′ north latitude, 121°02′–121°22′ east longitude. The maximum distance from southeast to northwest is 45 km, and from east to west is 20 km. The total area of the district is 482.83 square kilometers, with 6,667 hectares dedicated to cherry production, mainly involving six towns (or subdistrict offices) in Fushan District: HuiLi, MenLou, ZhangGeZhuang, GaoTuan, QingYang, and FuXin, encompassing a total of 231 administrative villages. The annual yield is 30,076 tons, with annual sales revenue reaching 328 million yuan.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: Fushan District of Yantai City is a low mountainous and hilly region, characterized by undulating hills and crisscrossing gullies. The landform generally consists of six parts mountain, one part water, and three parts field. The terrain slopes from southwest to northeast, with higher elevation in the west and south, and lower in the east and north. Shallow mountainous areas cover 165.61 square kilometers (34.3%), hilly areas 205.2 square kilometers (42.5%), and plains 112.02 square kilometers (23.2%). From south to north, the land transitions from hills to plains. Fushan Big Cherries are mainly grown in the low mountainous and hilly areas of the southern and western parts, where the soil is fertile, water conditions are favorable, and the ecological environment is pristine. The main soil type in cherry-growing regions is brown forest soil. Tests show organic matter content exceeds 1.2%, nitrogen 0.12%, phosphorus 0.3%, available phosphorus over 80 mg/kg, and available potassium over 120 mg/kg. The soil is deep, loose, and has strong water and nutrient retention—ideal for fruit tree growth.

　　(2) Hydrology: The region enjoys superior water conditions, with abundant groundwater, well-equipped farmland irrigation and drainage facilities, and clear, unpolluted water sources, fully capable of supporting irrigation in drought and drainage in flood.

　　(3) Climate: The area features a warm, semi-humid, and drought-prone climate, marked by distinct seasons, ample rainfall, moderate temperatures, and moist air. Winters are not extremely cold, and summers not overly hot—conditions suitable for the growth of temperate zone flora. The average frost-free period is 221 days. The climate is mild with four distinct seasons: cold and dry winters with little snow, dry and windy springs, hot and rainy summers, and cool, clear autumns with large diurnal temperature variations—all conducive to the growth and development of big cherries.

　　Sunlight: The region boasts abundant sunlight resources, with long daylight hours and strong sunshine, which benefits photosynthesis in fruit trees.

　　The annual average sunshine duration is 2,672.2 hours, accounting for 60% of the potential total.

　　Temperature: The annual average temperature is 11.5°C, peaking at 25.2°C in July and dropping to a minimum of -3.4°C in January. With an average frost-free period of 221 days and a natural farming period of about 290 days, the cool nights and large diurnal temperature differences help fruit trees accumulate nutrients.

　　Water: Precipitation is relatively low, mainly concentrated in summer, with large annual variations and instability. The average annual rainfall is 709.9 mm.

　　(4) Humanistic and Historical Background: Fushan Big Cherries have over 130 years of cultivation history. In 1871, American missionaries introduced the first batch of big cherries to Fushan, and subsequent variety introductions gradually expanded the planting area to its current scale. Fushan Big Cherries are known for their high quality, high yield, early maturity, and rich nutrition, earning the title “First Spring Fruit.”

　　Entering the 1980s and 1990s, Fushan District shifted its fruit production focus from apples to big cherries. The cherry planting area increased year by year, and management techniques continuously improved. In recent years, with the growing promotion of agricultural standardization, standardized production, regulated management, industrialized operations, and branded marketing of Fushan Big Cherries have gradually taken shape. Over 10 brands—including “Fuyang,” “Jincheng,” “Xiandu,” and “Zhanggezhuang”—have completed trademark registration, two have obtained green food certification, and four are pursuing green food and pollution-free certifications. In October 1995, at the Second China Agricultural Fair, Fushan Big Cherries won three gold, four silver, and one bronze medal. In the 1999 and 2002 agricultural fairs, the Rainier and Yanyang varieties were respectively awarded famous-product status. In 1996, Fushan District was honored as “Hometown of Chinese Cherries” by the China Specialties Hometown Naming Committee; in 2003, it received the title “Hometown of Chinese Big Cherries” from the China Association of Quality Agricultural Products Development and Service; and in 2007, it was named “Key County (District) for High-Quality Big Cherry Production Bases in China” by the China Fruit Marketing Association. Today, Fushan Big Cherries enjoy high recognition nationwide. To ensure quality and elevate standardized production, our district has established five municipal-level cherry production demonstration bases: FuXin Lushang, MenLou Erjia, HuiLi DongHuangshan, GaoTuan DingJiaKuang, and ZhangGeZhuang Xiaguangle. These bases have demonstrated and promoted new technologies and methods such as increased application of organic fertilizer, frequency-vibration insecticidal lamps, sex pheromone traps, anti-insect nets, and color board trapping. This has fully realized a standardized production model prioritizing organic fertilizers and biological pest control, utilizing green food production materials—further enhancing the standardized production of Fushan Big Cherries.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Origin Selection and Special Provisions: The origin of Fushan Big Cherries should be in agricultural production areas with good ecological conditions, far from pollution sources, and possessing sustainable production capacity.

　　(2) Variety Selection and Specific Requirements: Fushan Big Cherries should be of large-fruited varieties. High-quality, high-yield varieties promoted in recent years include Hongdeng, Xianfeng, Rainier, Lapins, Meizao, and Samith.

　　(3) Production Process Management, Including Special Regulations on Agricultural Inputs: The production process of Fushan Big Cherries includes planting, fertilizer and water management, shaping and pruning, flower and fruit management, and pest and disease control. Planting: Big cherry trees are typically planted in late March to early April. Organic fertilizer and compound fertilizer are applied in the planting trenches. The general planting spacing is 3×4 meters, with a ratio of main variety to pollinator tree of no less than 4:1. Fertilizer and Water Management: Base fertilizer mainly consists of farmyard manure mixed with a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer. Generally, 2,000–3,000 kg of organic fertilizer is applied per 666.7 m² in mature orchards. Application methods are primarily trench or broadcast, within the tree canopy projection. Trench application involves digging radial trenches 20–30 cm deep; broadcast involves evenly spreading fertilizer under the canopy and turning the soil 20 cm deep. Soil top-dressing is done three times annually: the first before bud break, focusing on nitrogen; the second during flower bud differentiation and fruit expansion, emphasizing phosphorus and potassium; the third in the later fruit growth stage, focusing on potassium. Foliar feeding is carried out 4–5 times a year—generally twice early in the season with nitrogen, and 2–3 times later with phosphorus and potassium, supplemented with trace elements needed for tree growth. Cherry irrigation mainly occurs four times: pre-flowering, hard core, post-harvest, and before freezing. Additionally, timely drainage is essential in the rainy season. Shaping and Pruning: Winter pruning mainly involves removing diseased or insect-infested branches. During the growing season, attention is given to branch spreading, shoot pinching, and timely removal of upright, crowded, or sprouting branches near cuts to improve canopy ventilation. Flower and Fruit Management: Focus is on thinning flowers and fruits, artificial pollination, preventing late frost damage, and scientific watering. Pest and Disease Control: Based on agricultural and physical methods, with biological control at the core, chemical measures are scientifically applied according to pest life cycles to effectively manage infestations.

　　Product Typical Quality Characteristics and Safety Standards

　　(1) External Sensory Features: Fushan Big Cherries are large in size and brightly colored, typically weighing over 8 grams per fruit. Colors range from red, yellow, to purple, with a translucent and attractive appearance.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: Laboratory analysis shows that every 100 grams of Fushan Big Cherries contains up to 59 mg of iron—the highest among fruits. Vitamin A content is 4–5 times that of grapes, apples, and oranges. Additionally, cherries contain vitamins B and C, as well as minerals like calcium and phosphorus. Each 100 grams includes 83 grams of water, 1.4 grams of protein, 0.3 grams of fat, 14.4 grams of carbohydrates, 66 kcal of energy, 0.4 grams of crude fiber, 0.5 grams of ash, 18 mg of calcium, 18 mg of phosphorus, 5.9 mg of iron, 0.15 mg of carotene, 0.04 mg of thiamine, 0.08 mg of riboflavin, 0.4 mg of niacin, 3 mg of ascorbic acid, 258 mg of potassium, 0.7 mg of sodium, 10.6 mg of magnesium, along with abundant vitamin A. Thus, Fushan Big Cherries are truly nutrient-rich.

　　(3) Safety Requirements: Big cherries entering the market must meet the hygiene standards of the Ministry of Agriculture’s “Pollution-Free Food Big Cherries.”

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: According to laboratory analysis, every 100 grams of fresh cherries contains up to

　　59 milligrams of iron, ranking first among fruits; its vitamin A content is 4–5 times higher than that of grapes, apples, and oranges. In addition, cherries also contain vitamins B and C, as well as mineral elements such as calcium and phosphorus. Each 100 grams includes 83 grams of water, 1.4 grams of protein, 0.3 grams of fat, 14.4 grams of carbohydrates, 66 kilocalories of energy, 0.4 grams of crude fiber, 0.5 grams of ash, 18 milligrams of calcium, 18 milligrams of phosphorus, 5.9 milligrams of iron, 0.15 milligrams of carotene, 0.04 milligrams of thiamine, 0.08 milligrams of riboflavin, 0.4 milligrams of niacin, 3 milligrams of ascorbic acid, 258 milligrams of potassium, 0.7 milligrams of sodium, 10.6 milligrams of magnesium, along with abundant vitamin A. Therefore, Fushan cherries are truly rich in nutrients and fully deserving of their reputation.

　　(3) Safety Requirements: Cherries entering the market must meet the hygiene standards for "Pollution-Free Food Cherries" set by the Ministry of Agriculture.

　　(See the table below.) Products that fall under the circumstances specified in Article 33 of the Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Law shall not be sold on the market.

　　Hygiene indicators for pollution-free cherries

　　No. Hazardous Substance Name Limit/(mg/kg)

　　1 Dimethoate ≤1.0

　　2 Phoxim ≤0.05

　　3 Pirimicarb ≤1.0

　　4 Fenvalerate ≤0.2

　　5 Deltamethrin ≤0.2

　　6 Cypermethrin ≤1.0

　　7 Carbendazim ≤0.5

　　8 Arsenic (as As) ≤0.5

　　9 Fluorine (as F) ≤0.5

　　10 Nitrite and Nitrate ≤4.0

　　Note 1: Exported products shall be tested according to the requirements of the importing country.

　　Note 2: In accordance with the Pesticide Management Regulations of the People’s Republic of China, highly toxic and extremely toxic pesticides shall not be used in cherry production and shall not be detected.

　　Note 3: Cherry producers shall voluntarily report the types of pesticides used when their cherries are tested. Refusal to report, concealing, or providing false information will result in the products being deemed non-compliant.

　　Packaging and labeling regulations

　　Products of the same variety shall be graded according to fruit size. Mechanical damage such as tree rubs and branch rubs, as well as pest and disease damage, shall be handled separately as non-compliant. Packaging materials must comply with national mandatory technical standards. Prior to packaging, products must be strictly sorted before being placed into cartons.