Yutian Chinese Cabbage

Yutian Chinese Cabbage

Yutian Chinese Cabbage is a geographical indication protected product.

　　Yutian County is known as the "Hometown of Chinese Chinese Cabbage." The Yutian Baojian Chinese Cabbage has a long planting history. Coupled with the region’s favorable climate, soil, and water conditions, it has developed its own unique vegetable quality. In particular, Yutian Baojian Chinese Cabbage is famous across China for its storability, high yield, resistance to bolting, dark green leaves, fine leaf veins, sweet and tender crispness, and is known as "Yutian Vegetable," representing the finest among Chinese cabbages.

　　Located at the southern foot of the Yanshan Mountains and on the coast of the Bohai Sea, Yutian has a northern temperate continental monsoon climate with rain and heat occurring in the same season. The soil is fertile, and the content of metasilicic acid and strontium in the groundwater meets the threshold standards of China’s national drinking mineral water criteria. The unique geographical conditions, clear water systems, fertile soil, and suitable climate contribute to the premium quality of Yutian Baojian Chinese Cabbage.

　　Yutian Chinese Cabbage, especially the Baojian variety, is known for its storability, resistance to bolting, and sweet, crisp leaves. It is rich in six nutrients—protein, vitamin C, total sugar, as well as iron, zinc, and selenium—and is highly nutritious, with benefits for promoting gastrointestinal motility. Its leaves, when used as filling, are fresh and delicious, help cut greasiness, and stimulate the appetite. The stalks are great for stir-frying without making the dish watery. More uniquely, the tender leaves and heart can be eaten raw—they are sweet, crisp, tender, refreshing, help cut greasiness, and relieve hangovers, making them a delicacy for banquets. According to testing by the 19th Tianjin Quality Supervision and Inspection Station in 2009, Baojian Chinese Cabbage had higher levels of six nutrients—protein, vitamin C, total sugar, iron, zinc, and selenium—than other similar products. Especially notable was its selenium content, reaching 0.02 mg/kg, meeting the standard for selenium-rich vegetables, making it one of the few selenium-enriched Chinese cabbages.

　　According to 2011 statistics, the county maintained a stable cabbage planting area of about 83,000 mu, mainly using open-field cultivation. The main varieties were Yutian Baojian, Beijing New No. 3, and Tianjin Qing, with an average yield of 16,000 jin per mu and a profit of 50 yuan per mu. In the autumn of 2011, 85,000 mu of Chinese cabbage were planted, an increase of 2,000 mu over previous years, including 54,000 mu of Beijing New No. 3, 16,000 mu of Tianjin Qing, and 15,000 mu of Yutian Baojian Chinese Cabbage. The products were mainly sold to 22 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, including Beijing, Tianjin, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Hubei, Shanxi, and Inner Mongolia. Yutian Baojian Chinese Cabbage is a traditional specialty agricultural product of Yutian County. In 2011, the planting area of high-quality Yutian Baojian Chinese Cabbage reached 15,000 mu, with a yield of 75,000 tons. Harvesting of Yutian Baojian Chinese Cabbage began in early November. In addition to being sold to markets in Beijing, Tianjin, Tangshan, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, it also entered the sales networks of Fujian’s Chaoda Group and Hong Kong’s Bestway Holdings, as well as well-known supermarkets in the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan region such as Beijing Supermarket Development, CR Vanguard, Tianjin Aolü, and Tangshan Huasheng and Bafang. Some products were also exported to overseas markets such as Canada, Singapore, and Malaysia.

　　In 2002, Yutian County was named the "Hometown of Chinese Cabbage in Hebei Province" by the Hebei Provincial Department of Agriculture; in 2006, it was awarded the title of "Hometown of Chinese Cabbage in China" by the organizing committee of the China Fruit and Vegetable Forum; in 2006, the "Yukang" brand Baojian Chinese Cabbage obtained certification as a pollution-free agricultural product and as a green food; in 2007, Yutian Baojian Chinese Cabbage was recognized by the Agricultural Chamber of Commerce of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce as a "Recommended Premium Product for Agricultural Products and Processed Products Entering Supermarkets"; in 2008, the geographical indication certification trademark for Yutian Baojian Chinese Cabbage was successfully registered with the National Trademark Office, becoming the only vegetable-related geographical indication certification trademark registered in Hebei Province; in 2009, Yutian Baojian Chinese Cabbage obtained organic product certification from the China Quality Certification Centre (CQC); in 2010, Jinyutian Chinese Cabbage was awarded the title of "China’s Famous Vegetable Brand" and was rated as a high-quality product of Hebei Province. On September 1, 2010, the Yutian Baojian Chinese Cabbage DB1302 Tangshan City local standard came into effect.

　　After review and evaluation by the organizing committee of the China Fruit and Vegetable Industry Development Forum, Yutian County was named the "Hometown of Chinese Cabbage in China." The Yutian Baojian Chinese Cabbage has a long planting history, and coupled with the region’s favorable climate, soil, and water conditions, it has formed its own unique vegetable quality, making it the finest among Chinese cabbages. Currently, the county has a perennial cultivation area of 15,000 mu for Baojian Chinese Cabbage, with a total annual yield of 80 million kilograms.

　　The administrative regions currently under the jurisdiction of six towns in Yutian County, Hebei Province: Yutian Town, Hongqiao Town, Yangjiatao Township, Liangjiadian Town, Caitingqiao Town, and Guojiatun Township