Hengshan Daming Mung Beans

Hengshan Daming Mung Beans

Hengshan Daming Mung Beans are a product with a geographical indication.

　　Daming mung beans have a long cultivation history in Hengshan County.

　　They are drought-resistant, disease-resistant, and highly adaptable, earning the reputation of being the "green pearls" among grains. They are a leading export commodity for Hengshan County.

　　Currently, they have become the most dynamic pillar industry in the rural commodity economy. Daming mung beans enjoy a high reputation in both domestic and international markets and have been designated by Japan as an import inspection-exempt product.

　　In 1986, Hengshan was established as a production base county for Daming mung beans in Shaanxi Province, and in 1996, it was designated as a standardized production demonstration county for Daming mung beans by the Provincial Bureau of Technical Supervision.

　　The county has a planting area of over 300,000 mu, with a total output of 15,000 tons, exports of 12,000 tons, and foreign exchange earnings of 10 million US dollars. Hengshan Daming mung beans are known for their large size (grain diameter 3.2–3.6 mm), heavy weight (1,000-grain weight of 6.5–80 grams), and bright color (oil green), winning the favor of domestic and international merchants and experts at multiple agricultural exhibitions.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The Hengshan Daming mung bean planting area is located within Hengshan County, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province, at an altitude of 890–1,543 meters, between 108°56′–110°20′ east longitude and 37°20′–38°14′ north latitude. The planting area borders Yuyang District to the north, Zizhou and Zichang counties to the south, Jingbian County to the west, Mizhi County to the east, and the Inner Mongolia Ejin Banner to the northwest. It spans 96 km from east to west and 100 km from north to south, covering a total area of 4,333 km². The administrative regions involved include 358 administrative villages across 18 townships in Hengshan County: Dangcha, Wuzhen, Gaozhen, Shiyaogou, Hancha, Dianshi, Nanta, Xiangshui, Boluo, Baijie, Leilongwan, Hengshan Town, Zhaoshipan, Tawan, Aihao'mao, Shuangcheng, Shiwan, and Weijialou. Additionally, it includes 10 sub-farms of the Shimawa Farm. The total production area is 16,666.7 hectares, with an annual output of 15,000 tons.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: The Hengshan Daming mung bean planting area is part of the hilly and gully region on the southern edge of the Mu Us Desert. The soil, water sources, and air are clean, and land resources are abundant, which is conducive to crop rotation. The land type is mainly loessial soil, with deep layers and loose texture, beneficial for root development. The arable layer soil contains 0.83% organic matter, 0.05% total nitrogen, 0.12% total phosphorus, and is rich in potassium. It has good tillage properties and strong water and nutrient retention capabilities, with a pH value of 7–7.5.

　　(2) Hydrology: The area has 53 rivers of varying sizes, with the larger and more significant ones including the Wuding River, Lu River, Dalie River, Xiaolie River, Heimutou River, and Hei River. Mung bean growth relies on natural precipitation.

　　(3) Climate: The area has abundant light and heat resources, with an average annual temperature of 8.6°C and accumulated temperatures above 10°C reaching 3,259.7°C. There is a large diurnal temperature variation and long daylight hours, resulting in high photosynthetic efficiency. From May to September, the temperature follows a low→high→low pattern, aligning with the temperature requirements of different growth stages of mung beans. Annual precipitation is around 400 mm, with 70% concentrated in July, August, and September. Rainfall coincides with high temperatures, which is beneficial for the growth and development of Hengshan Daming mung beans. During the harvest period, rainfall is minimal, facilitating drying and threshing.

　　(4) Humanistic History: Hengshan County is a major mung bean-producing region in Shaanxi Province, with over 2,000 years of mung bean cultivation history. The annual planting area of Hengshan Daming mung beans is 250,000 mu, with a total output of 15,000 tons. The beans are named after systematic selection and breeding by local agricultural technicians, resulting in stable yields, high productivity, and excellent quality. In 1985, Hengshan was designated as a Daming mung bean production base county by Shaanxi Province. The beans produced are considered the best food for natural, high-protein, low-fat, and pollution-free diets internationally, earning the title of "green pearls" among grains. They are an important component of high-quality small grain processing and exports, holding an irreplaceable position in Southeast Asian and European-American markets. They enjoy a high reputation both domestically and internationally, with annual exports of 15,000 tons and foreign exchange earnings of over 10 million US dollars.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Site Selection: Hengshan Daming mung beans are grown in different production areas based on the quality grade of agricultural products, namely organic mung bean production areas and pollution-free mung bean production areas, each meeting the respective environmental standards for organic or pollution-free agricultural products. Generally, non-leguminous crops are chosen for the previous planting.

　　(2) Variety Selection: Seeds with full grains and the characteristic traits of Hengshan Daming mung beans are selected for production, with off-color grains removed during sowing.

　　(3) Production Process Management: The "Hengshan County Daming Mung Bean Production Technical Operating Procedures" are followed. From sowing to harvesting, all processes are manually operated, primarily using farmyard manure with minimal chemical fertilizer and no pesticides. Crop rotation is practiced with gramineous, solanaceous, and forage crops. During weeding, hoeing, and harvesting, any abnormal or mixed plants are promptly removed.

　　(4) Post-Harvest Processing Regulations: Harvesting and threshing are entirely manual operations, ensuring no secondary pollution, low breakage rates, minimal off-color grains, no mixed beans or foreign objects, high processing quality, and good storability.

　　(5) Production Record Requirements: Detailed records of production operations, including dates, names of agricultural inputs used, manufacturers, and application amounts, must be maintained. Except for processing, grading, packaging, storage, and transportation of mung beans, all other production processes must comply with the People's Republic of China National Standard "Mung Beans GB10462-89," with detailed record archives.

　　Production processes should comply with the People's Republic of China National Standard "Mung Beans GB10462-89" and maintain detailed record archives.

　　Product Typical Quality Characteristics and Product Quality Safety Regulations

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: Spring-sown, open-field cultivated mung beans have a growth period of 105–115 days. The plant type is upright, with a height of 45–65 cm. The leaves are broad ovate, dark green in color, and the flowers are yellow-green. The plant has an indeterminate podding habit, with black pods upon maturity. The main stem has 6–8 branches, with 22–24 pods per plant. Pods are 10–12 cm long, with 12–14 grains per pod. The 100-grain weight is 6.5–8.0 g, and the grains are cylindrical, dark green, and glossy.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: Protein content is 22.0–23.2%, fat content is 0.7%, and starch content is 53.8%. Sprouted beans are white, tender, and sweet with a crisp texture. There are no moldy or hard grains, and the sprouting vigor and rate are strong, with a germination rate of over 99%. The sprouted beans grow uniformly, have consistent thickness, and are heat-resistant, with a shelf life 6–10 days longer than Northeastern mung beans. They can be produced and sold year-round. Mung bean sprouts are rich in protein, various mineral elements, and vitamins A, B, C, and E, with vitamin B17 having strong anti-cancer properties. Regular consumption of mung bean sprouts can effectively treat hypertension and diabetes, lower cholesterol, and prevent gastric and rectal cancers.

　　(3) Safety Requirements: The quality standards for Hengshan Daming mung bean original seeds are: purity ≥99.5%, cleanliness ≥99%, germination rate ≥99%, moisture ≤12%, imperfect grains ≤1%, impurities ≤0.5%, and 100-grain weight ≥7.0 g. According to the national "Major Crop Seed Quality Standards," the quality standards for Hengshan Daming mung bean improved seeds are: purity ≥99%, cleanliness ≥98%, germination rate ≥98%, moisture ≤12%, imperfect grains ≤2%, impurities ≤0.5%, and 100-grain weight ≥7.0 g. The produced Hengshan Daming mung beans meet the pollution-free agricultural product standard "NY5203-2004 Pollution-Free Food Mung Beans."

　　Packaging and Labeling Regulations

　　Packaging must clearly indicate the agricultural geographical indication "Hengshan Daming Mung Beans." Each package should specify the place of origin, product standard number, trademark, producer name, detailed address, specifications, net content, production year, and processing/packaging date. The text on the label should be clear, complete, and accurate.