Ying County Carrots

Ying County Carrots

Ying County Carrots are a product certified with a Geographical Indication for Agricultural Products.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Carrots are produced within the territory of Ying County, Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province. Ying County is located in the northern part of Shanxi Province, spanning longitude 112°58′–113°37′ east and latitude 39°17′–39°45′ north. The county has a parallelogram-shaped layout. It borders Hunyuan County to the east, Shuozhou and Shanyin County to the west, Huairen County to the north, and Fanshi County and Dai County to the south. The county currently has 12 townships, with a population of 283,000, including 252,000 agricultural residents. The total agricultural income is 2.475 billion yuan, and the per capita net income of farmers is 3,946 yuan. The industrial output value is 890 million yuan. The county covers a total area of 1,708 square kilometers, stretching 47.5 kilometers from north to south and 46.5 kilometers from east to west. Transportation is very convenient, mainly by road, with a road density of 39.7 kilometers per 100 square kilometers in the county seat. Ying County is situated at the southern end of the Datong Basin, characterized by one-third mountains, two-thirds plains. It is flanked by the Hengshan, Longshou, and Huanghua mountain ranges from north to south, and encircled by the Hun River and Sanggan River from east to west, resembling a screen of mountains and a ribbon of water. The terrain is higher in the south and lower in the north, with the highest elevation reaching 2,333 meters. The total production area is 2,000 mu, with an annual output of 920,000 kilograms.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: The soil distribution in Ying County is influenced by terrain, topography, hydrology, parent material, vegetation, and human factors, making it relatively complex. Most of the county's soil is sandy loam, with deep and fertile layers. The overall characteristic is that zonal distribution is not obvious but follows certain regularities.

　　(2) Hydrology: Ying County is located at the southern end of the Datong Basin. It includes the alluvial fans of the Daxiao Shiyu and Ruyueyu valleys, borders Zhenziliang Reservoir to the north, and the Sanggan River to the west. The total water resources amount to 150 million cubic meters, with per capita water resource availability at 564 cubic meters. The county’s total surface water flow is 60 million cubic meters, and the extractable groundwater is 90 million cubic meters.

　　Surface runoff mainly comes from seasonal floodwaters. There are currently 12,000 irrigation wells in Ying County.

　　(3) Climate: Ying County has a temperate continental climate, with distinct seasons influenced by seasonal changes. Climate variations are mainly controlled by southwest air currents. The general annual pattern is: average annual temperature of 7.1°C, extreme maximum temperature of 36.6°C, and extreme minimum temperature of -30.5°C. Monsoons are concentrated in winter and spring, with prevailing southwest winds. The average annual wind speed is 2.4 meters per second, with a maximum of 20 meters per second. The average annual rainfall is about 380 millimeters. Rainfall is unevenly distributed throughout the year, mostly concentrated in July, August, and September, accounting for 65% of the total annual precipitation. The average annual evaporation is 1,858.5 mm, mainly occurring from April to October, accounting for over 75% of the annual total. The first frost usually occurs in late September, and the thaw generally happens in late April of the following year. The frost-free period in mountainous areas is 90–110 days, while in plain areas it is 130–141 days.

　　(4) Humanistic and Historical Background: Carrots are favored by users for their neat and uniform shape, blunt and round tips, smoothness without branching, bright color, sweet and crisp taste, rich nutrition, and high quality. Since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the people of Ying County have developed this traditionally advantageous product, making carrot cultivation a leading industry for farmers to achieve prosperity. They have continuously improved production conditions and expanded planting areas, achieving regionalized cultivation and scaled operations. The county’s planting area exceeds 300,000 mu, with an annual output of over 1.3 billion kilograms, making it the largest carrot production base in the country. In 2001, the Nanhedao Vegetable Wholesale Market, the largest vegetable market in North China integrating accommodation, entertainment, long-distance cooling transport packaging, and vegetable quarantine, was designated by the Ministry of Agriculture as one of the national designated vegetable wholesale markets. Every mid-July, high-stacked vegetable trucks from provinces such as Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, and Shandong pour into Ying County, crossing the Yangtze River to deliver produce to Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hainan, and re-export to Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Japan, and other regions, showcasing their excellence in both domestic and international markets.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Variety Selection: Varieties that are disease-resistant, high-yielding, high-quality, adaptable, and with good commercial traits are chosen. Common varieties include the Japanese Shin Kuroda Improved Five-inch and Baogewu Five-inch. Seed Quality: Purity ≥92%, cleanliness ≥85%, germination rate ≥80%, moisture ≤10%. Land Preparation: Early plowing and frequent turning, breaking up and leveling the soil. The depth of plowing depends on the variety, generally 25–30 cm. Base Fertilizer: According to NY/T496, determine the appropriate fertilization amount and method based on soil fertility and fertilization practices. Generally, base fertilizer is emphasized, applying 3,000–5,000 kg of well-rotted manure or human waste, 50 kg of ammonium carbonate, 50 kg of calcium superphosphate, and 25 kg of potassium sulfate per mu. Base fertilizer should account for over 70% of the total fertilizer. Bed Preparation: Methods vary by region, soil, and variety. For thin soils or wet conditions, high beds are suitable, 50 cm wide...

　　...15–20 cm high, with two rows planted per bed. Flat beds are commonly used, 2.4 m wide.

　　(2) Production Process: Seed Treatment: Place plump seeds in 30–40°C warm water for 3–4 hours, then place them in warm cotton cloth and keep at 20–25°C for constant-temperature sprouting. Keep seeds moist and stir regularly, rinsing with clean warm water to maintain even moisture and temperature. Sow when most seeds show white tips, usually after 4–5 days of sprouting. Sowing Period: Spring sowing should not be too early or too late, generally when the daily average temperature is 10°C and the night average is 7°C — dehydrated carrots around April 21, yellow carrots around May 20. Seeding Rate: Row sowing: 0.3–0.5 kg per 667 m²; broadcast sowing: 0.8–1.0 kg per 667 m². Sowing Method: For row sowing, 48% fluchloralin emulsifiable concentrate at 100–150 ml/mu is sprayed 6–7 days before sowing for soil treatment. Mix soil 1–5 cm after spraying, then sow. Create rows 23–26 cm apart, about 1.5–2 cm deep; deeper seeding hinders emergence. Spread seeds evenly in furrows, lightly tamp with feet, then cover with fine soil and press. Field Management: Perform 2–3 thinning and weeding sessions during the seedling stage. First thinning at 1–2 true leaves, keeping 3 cm spacing and shallow cultivation. Second thinning at 3–4 true leaves (about 10 cm tall), removing overcrowded, poor, and diseased plants, maintaining 12–15 cm spacing with 35,000–40,000 plants per 667 m², along with weeding. Watering: Continuous watering is needed from sowing to emergence to keep soil moist, generally every 5–6 days. During peak leaf growth, control water to harden plants, strengthen cultivation, and hill soil slightly to prevent roots from surfacing. When root tops reach 1.5 cm in diameter, water regularly to maintain 60–80% soil moisture, stopping 2 weeks before harvest. Fertilization: Based on soil fertility and growth, apply fertilizer twice — at 8–9 true leaves when roots begin to swell, apply 15 kg diammonium phosphate or 600–800 kg well-rotted organic fertilizer per 667 m². Second application after 2 weeks: 10–15 kg urea per 667 m². Use quick-acting fertilizers 20 days before harvest. All fertilizers must meet national standards for pollution-free carrots. Do not use industrial waste, urban garbage, sludge, or unfermented manure. Pest and Disease Control: Practice proper rotation, field sanitation, and cultivation to reduce pests. Apply pesticides scientifically based on pest life cycles, alternating chemicals to prevent resistance. For early-stage Cercospora leaf spot, spray 500x 75% chlorothalonil. For bacterial soft rot, use 6,000x 72% streptomycin at 7–10 day intervals for 2–3 sprays. Prohibited: High-toxicity and high-residue pesticides such as parathion, methamidophos, monocrotophos, phorate, isofenphos-methyl, terbufos, ethoprophos, fenitrothion, phoxim, carbofuran, aldicarb, ethoprop, phosfolan, cadusafos, HCH, DDT, toxaphene, chlordimeform, nitrofen, diuron, aldrin, dieldrin, mercurials, arsenic, lead, dikwad, fluoroacetamide, sodium fluoroacetate, tetramine, silatrane, etc. Follow GB4286 and GB/T8321 standards for chemical pesticide use. Rotate or mix pesticides with different modes of action to delay resistance.

　　(4) Harvesting: Harvest when roots are fully mature, swollen, and meet pollution-free standards.

　　(5) Establish Technical Records: Record every technical step and measure taken during carrot growth for reference.

　　4 Product Typical Features and Quality Safety Standards

　　Carrots are rich in trace elements and nutrients. Scientific analysis shows that every 100 grams of carrots contain 0.058% vitamin C, 0.024% minerals, 0.0020% carbohydrates, and large amounts of essential proteins. Regular consumption can improve health. On July 30, 2004, Ying County Carrots were certified as pollution-free agricultural products by the National Agricultural Product Quality Center and registered under the “Yingzhou Green” trademark with the National Trademark Office.

　　Packaging and Labeling Regulations

　　Raw materials (carrots) are purchased from contracted bases. Substandard, small, forked, insect-damaged, or deformed carrots are removed. Pack in 20 kg boxes. Packaging must indicate the words “Geographical Indication for Agricultural Products.”

　　4 Typical Product Characteristics and Product Quality and Safety Regulations

　　Carrots contain a variety of trace elements and are highly nutritious. Scientific analysis shows that every 100 grams of carrots contains 0.058% vitamin C, 0.024% minerals, 0.0020% carbohydrates, and a significant amount of protein and other essential nutrients required by the human body. Regular consumption can help strengthen the body. On July 30, 2004, Yingxian carrots were certified as pollution-free agricultural products by the National Agricultural Products Quality Center of the Ministry of Agriculture, and registered under the trademark “Yingzhou Green” with the National Trademark Office.

　　Packaging and Labeling Regulations

　　Raw materials (carrots) are purchased from bases with which supply and sales agreements have been signed. Substandard, small, forked, insect-damaged, deformed, or otherwise defective carrots are removed. The carrots are packed at 20 kilograms per box. The packaging must be labeled with the words “Agricultural Product Geographical Indication.”