Yunsan Big Cherries

Yunsan Big Cherries

Yunsan Big Cherries are a product with geographical indication status.

　　Yunsan Town enjoys the reputation of being the "No. 1 Big Cherry Town in Jiaodong." Yunsan Big Cherries are known for their bright red color, delicate transparency, well-shaped fruits, thick and tender flesh, fine and dense texture, abundant juice, seedless or small-seeded flesh, richly fragrant aroma, and high nutritional value. They are highly favored and hailed as the "diamond fruit." Since the 1970s, Yunsan Town introduced big cherry cultivation, and has now developed over 26,000 acres of big cherry orchards, including more than 4,000 acres under greenhouse cultivation, yielding an annual production of over 9.5 million kilograms. In 2005, Yunsan Town was awarded the honorary title of "China's High-Quality Fruit and Vegetable Base Township." In 2012, Yunsan Big Cherries received geographical indication protection registration from the Ministry of Agriculture. In 2013, they were honored as a Qingdao High-Quality Agricultural Product Brand.

　　Yunsan Big Cherries are produced in Tielingzhuang Village, Yunsan Town, Pingdu City, Shandong Province. They ripen early, are large in size, sweet in flavor, and resistant to storage and transportation, earning the reputation of the "First Fruit of Early Spring." The fruit is warm in nature and sweet in taste, known to regulate the spleen, improve qi and blood circulation, and soothe the liver while reducing heat. With high iron content, it helps promote the regeneration of hemoglobin, making it beneficial for people with anemia. The main varieties cultivated are Hongdeng, Daihong, and Xianfeng.

　　Yunsan Big Cherries are grown in Yunsan Town, Pingdu City, on the Jiaodong Peninsula. Major cultivating villages include Tielingzhuang, Shanwang, Nanwanggezhuang, Shizhuyawan, Henan Dabai, Shangzhuang, Shangmatai, Diaoyutai, Xingfuzhuang, and Xinzhuang. Among them, Tielingzhuang, Diaoyutai, and Henan Dabai have the highest concentration.

　　The cultivation of Yunsan Big Cherries began in November 1994. Open-field cherries typically come to market around May 1st each year. In 2000, local fruit growers started using winter-warm greenhouses, advancing the harvest period by about 20 days. By 2010, the total planting area had expanded to 13,000 acres, most of which had entered peak production. The total yield of Yunsan Big Cherries reached 2,000 tons, primarily sold to cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

　　In November 2005, at the China Fruit and Vegetable Industry Development Forum, Yunsan Town was awarded the honorary title of "China's High-Quality Fruit and Vegetable Base Township" due to its large-scale development of big cherries. In 2002, the Yunsan Big Cherry Demonstration Garden was recognized by the Qingdao Agriculture Bureau as a "Qingdao Famous and High-Quality Fruit Production Demonstration Garden." In 2005, it was named a "Qingdao Science Popularization Demonstration Base" by the Qingdao Association for Science and Technology. After application and testing, in 2006, Yunsan Town was designated by Qingdao City as a "Big Cherry Pollution-Free Production Base," with Yunsan Big Cherries tested and confirmed as pollution-free agricultural products, meeting all green food standards.

　　Growing Environment

　　Yunsan Town is located in the central hinterland of the Jiaodong Peninsula, at the easternmost tip of Pingdu City, often referred to as the "Eastern Gateway" of Pingdu, covering a total area of 148.6 square kilometers. To the north lies the renowned Jiaodong mountain—Yunshan; to the south are surrounding immortal-mountains; in the center flows the Zhugong River; and to the west of the Yunshan Mountain Range lies the Yinfu Reservoir, the second-largest reservoir in Jiaodong, like a shining pearl. Yunsan Town lies between latitudes 39° and 40°, surrounded by mountains on three sides, forming a typical small basin climate with slightly acidic soil—ideal conditions for growing big cherries. Cultivation trials began in the spring of 1992, and after 1999, the planting area expanded rapidly, with over 2,000 acres of big cherries planted annually.

　　Yunsan Town has a monsoon continental climate with distinct seasons, abundant sunshine, and natural conditions—including soil—that provide optimal growth environments for big cherries.

　　Nutritional Value

　　Due to its unique growing environment and advanced management practices, Yunsan Big Cherries produce large, sweet, and nutrient-rich fruits. Testing by the National Ministry of Agriculture’s Detection Center shows that they are rich in carbohydrates, protein, calcium, zinc, selenium, iron, magnesium, as well as essential vitamins C and E, making them the nobility among fruits. Additionally, Yunsan Big Cherries offer beautifying benefits. An ancient Chinese medical text, *Famous Doctors' Miscellaneous Records*, states: “Eating cherries improves complexion and uplifts the spirit.” Big cherries also have therapeutic and health-preserving effects. Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty recorded in *Compendium of Materia Medica* that cherries can benefit qi, dispel rheumatism, promote rash eruption, and detoxify.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The production area of Yunsan Big Cherries is located at the easternmost part of Pingdu, 110 kilometers from Qingdao Port, 75 kilometers from Qingdao International Airport, and only 60 kilometers from the Jiaoji Railway. The Weilai Expressway and National Highway 804 run through Yunsan Town, providing convenient transport and communication. According to the directive of the Pingdu Municipal People’s Government, the protected production area of Yunsan Big Cherries includes 181 administrative villages across Yunsan Town, Malan Town, and Cuizhao Town, with a total planting area of approximately 30,000 acres and an annual yield of 30 million kilograms. The geographical coordinates are longitude 120°03′46″ – 120°12′15″ and latitude 36°45′37.1″ – 36°50′01″, with an average elevation of 107 meters. Yunsan Town is surrounded by mountains on three sides, forming a typical small basin climate with slightly acidic soil—perfect for growing big cherries.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: Yunsan Big Cherries are bright red, delicate and transparent, well-shaped, and uniformly sized. The flesh is thick, tender, fine-textured, juicy, aromatic, and nutrient-rich. 2. Safety Requirements: Big cherries strictly comply with the NY5112-2005 standard for pollution-free pome and stone fruits. 3. Packaging: Packaging materials must meet national food packaging hygiene requirements and environmental protection standards. All packaging for Yunsan Big Cherries should be clean, hygienic, dry, non-toxic, odorless, and food-safe. All packaging must be sturdy and leak-proof. 4. Stacking and Handling: Yunsan Big Cherries must be handled gently during stacking and transportation—no squeezing or collision allowed. Transport vehicles must be clean and sanitary, and must not be mixed with toxic, harmful, or other perishable goods. Any vehicle or container previously used for chemicals, pesticides, or spoiled food must be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed before use. During transit, batches must be clearly separated, stacked neatly, and kept in a clean, ventilated environment. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight, rain, freezing, or excessive heat.