Xiushan Turnip

Xiushan Turnip

　　Xiushan Turnip, also known as rutabaga or "turnip," is a variety of mustard greens and a root-type mustard. Legend has it that the pickling technique for turnips was invented by Zhuge Liang and later introduced to Xiushan by horse caravans. The climate in Xiushan is suitable for growing turnips. Initially, every household planted their own seeds and then pickled them using the "three-pickle, five-brine, six-sun-dry" method.

　　Xiushan Turnip Has a Long History

　　　　The "Axiu" brand specialty turnip series produced by Axiu Food Factory is meticulously handcrafted by Mr. Chen Xingzhou, the direct descendant of the Chen family’s pickling legacy, who continues the secret pickling techniques passed down since the Qing Dynasty's Tongzhi era. The product uses green, pollution-free turnips sourced from the mountainous regions of Xiushan County and high-quality seasonings.

　　Scale

　　　　In 2010, in accordance with the municipal "Ten Thousand Yuan Income Growth Project for Farmers," our county established a vegetable professional cooperative in early May to vigorously develop production bases. The "base plus farmer" model was adopted to boost farmers’ income. Guided by the business philosophy of being "green, eco-friendly, and healthy," and through a "five-household mutual guarantee" system for mutual supervision and assurance, we ensured that all stages — including variety selection, production management, processing, and packaging — strictly followed the production protocols for "green food." This guarantees product quality. To date, contracts have been signed with 2,468 households across 16 villages for the cultivation of 6,500 mu of turnips, along with production and purchase agreements. The phased goal is to expand the production base to all suitable townships in the county by 2012, reaching a planting scale of 30,000 mu, covering over 15,000 households, with farmers' income expected to exceed 60 million yuan. Meanwhile, the production and processing scale of turnips will continue to expand, forming an integrated turnip industry chain. By then, annual production will reach over 10,000 tons of finished turnip products and over 40,000 tons of semi-finished products, generating an output value of more than 250 million yuan.