Seven-Li Lake Radish

Seven-Li Lake Radish

Seven-Li Lake Radish is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Seven-Li Lake Radish is grown in 31 villages along the Han River in Jiu Kou Town, Zhongxiang City, including Liu Hu Village, Chun Guang Village, Zheng Qiao Village, Bai Sui Village, Han Jiang Village, and Lian Xing Village. The radish has a smooth white skin that does not crack, an elongated oval shape, a well-proportioned and plump form, and measures 25–30 cm in length per piece. The flesh is white, tender, juicy, and free from pithiness. Seven-Li Lake Radish is of high quality and has a long cultivation history, having been popular since ancient times. By the Ming Dynasty, it was widely grown throughout the county, with large-scale planting beginning in the 1950s. By the 1960s, it had reached a considerable scale, with up to 100,000 mu planted at its peak. Currently, the planting area is stable at 60,000 mu, with an annual output of 180,000 tons and an output value exceeding 100 million yuan. The product is in high demand and exported to provinces and cities such as Beijing, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Fujian, Hunan, Shanghai, and Wuhan. The saying “Radishes crunch, crisp and loud, eating them can help you live a hundred years strong; Yantai apples, Laiyang pears — none can match the skin of Seven-Li Lake radishes” has become widely known in Zhongxiang and surrounding counties. In addition, Seven-Li Lake Radish was certified as a Grade A Green Food product by the China Green Food Development Center in 2011.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Seven-Li Lake Radish from Jiu Kou Town, Zhongxiang City, is produced in 31 villages including Deng Ta Village, Liu Hu Village, Xiong Qiao Village, Dong Fang Hong Village, Nong Xing Village, Chun Guang Village, Zheng Qiao Village, San Xing Ji Village, Dong Feng Village, Jiao Feng Village, Pan Ji Village, Shu Tai Village, Xiang Jiang Village, Bai Sui Village, Lu Sai Village, Tian Feng Village, Da Wang Miao Village, Hua Yuan Village, Liu Jing Village, Xiang Ling Village, Liu Tai Village, He Yang Ji Village, Zheng Di Village, Lü Jia Tan Village, Luo Ling Village, Yong Sheng Village, Ming Xing Village, Chen Yuan Village, Wen Ling Village, Han Jiang Village, and Lian Xing Village. Jiu Kou Town is located in the central part of Hubei Province, in the middle reaches of the Han River, 45 km south of Zhongxiang City’s urban area, covering a total area of 300 square kilometers. Its geographical coordinates are between 112°07′–113°00′ east longitude and 30°42′–31°36′ north latitude. The entire region features flat terrain, with elevations ranging from 32.5 to 41.5 meters. It borders Shi Long Town of Jingshan County to the east, Duo Bao Town of Tianmen City to the south, faces Shayang County across the river to the west, and adjoins Chai Hu Town and Chang Tan Town of the same city to the north. The planting area of Seven-Li Lake Radish reaches 60,000 mu, yielding an average of 180,000 tons of high-quality radishes annually.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: Seven-Li Lake Radish is oval-shaped, white, measuring 25–30 cm in length and weighing 750–1000 g per piece. It has a well-proportioned, plump form, smooth skin, tender and juicy flesh, is free from pithiness and cracking, and has a crisp texture when eaten raw with minimal spiciness. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Seven-Li Lake Radish is unique in quality, rich in moisture and nutrients, and beneficial for the lungs and cooling to the body. Its crude fiber content is less than 0.8, and moisture content exceeds 90%. 3. Safety Requirements: Seven-Li Lake Radish complies with the standards of “Green Food Root Vegetables” (NY/T745-2003).