Zhuyang Walnuts

Zhuyang Walnuts

Zhuyang walnuts are a product with geographical indication status.

　　Zhuyang walnuts are named after Zhuyang Town in Lingbao City where they are produced. Legend has it that during the Western Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian introduced walnuts to the Central Plains after his mission to the Western Regions and first planted them here, making them one of the staple food sources for local residents ever since. According to incomplete statistics, there are currently over 3,000 walnut trees aged over a hundred years in the town. Zhuyang is situated at the intersection of the Qinling and Funiu mountain ranges, at an altitude of 600 to 1,100 meters, with weakly alkaline soil and large diurnal temperature variations, making it highly suitable for walnut cultivation. By the end of 2015, the town had planted walnuts across 400,000 mu, of which 170,000 mu were bearing fruit, yielding 42.5 million kilograms annually, making walnuts one of the main economic sources for local residents. In 2007, it was awarded the title of "National High-Quality Walnut Production Base Township" by the China Fruit Marketing Association; in 2010, Zhuyang's "Pearl Walnut" won a gold award at the Second National Walnut Conference in China; and in 2011, "Shaanxi Walnut No. 5" received a "Gold Award" at the First China Walnut Festival. Zhuyang walnuts are rich in unsaturated fatty acids and essential trace elements such as zinc, manganese, and chromium. They help promote glucose utilization, cholesterol metabolism, and cardiovascular protection. They also have significant cough-suppressing and asthma-relieving effects, making them particularly effective for patients with chronic bronchitis and asthma in winter.

　　Zhuyang Town in Lingbao City plans to develop an additional 200,000 mu of walnut plantations over three years, aiming to become China’s top walnut-producing town. Zhuyang Town is one of the best-suited regions in China for high-quality walnut cultivation and was honored as a "National High-Quality Walnut Production Base Township" by the China Fruit Marketing Association in 2007. Currently, the walnut planting area in Zhuyang exceeds 110,000 mu, with an annual output of 4.5 million kilograms and a production value of 48 million yuan. The "Zhuyang Walnut" brand is now sold nationwide, not only effectively connecting small-scale household production with the ever-changing larger market but also accelerating the commercialization of walnut research achievements.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The protected production area of Zhuyang walnuts is within Zhuyang Town, Lingbao City. It borders Shaanxi Province to the west, Wumu Township of Lingbao City to the east, Lushi County to the south, and Yangping Town of Lingbao City to the north. The total protected area covers 783 square kilometers within Zhuyang Town, Lingbao City, with a total cultivated area of 200,000 mu and an annual output of 2,250 tons. The geographical coordinates of the protected area are between 110°29′00″ to 110°48′00″ east longitude and 34°07′00″ to 34°24′00″ north latitude.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Appearance: The fruit surface is clean, with uniform size. The nuts are round or long oval in shape, free from insect damage or black spots. The suture line is tight, and the nuts produce a crisp sound when tapped. The average single nut weight is greater than 10 grams, with a shell thickness of 1.1 mm and a smooth, attractive shell surface. 2. Internal Quality: The kernel is light yellowish-brown, with moisture content not exceeding 8%. It contains 15–20g/100g of protein, 58–65g/100g of fat, 4.5×10³–5.2×10³ mg/kg of tannins, 3,900–3,980 mg/kg of potassium, and 0.01–0.02 mg/kg of selenium. The kernels are plump, sweet-flavored, with a shelling rate of over 58%, and free from empty or damaged nuts. 3. Safety Requirements: The walnut products meet the safety standards of the "Pollution-Free Food" industry standard under the People's Republic of China Ministry of Agriculture. Packaging and labeling must comply with the "Administrative Measures for the Packaging and Labeling of Agricultural Products" issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, and market entry follows the relevant regulations of the "Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Law."