Mizhi Red Onion

Mizhi Red Onion

Mizhi Red Onion is an agricultural product with a geographical indication.

　　Mizhi Red Onion

　　Production Area

　　The production and protection area of Mizhi Red Onion covers the entire territory of Mizhi County, involving 396 administrative villages across nine towns and subdistrict offices: Yinzhou Subdistrict Office, Chengjiao Town, Yangjiagou Town, Tao Town, Yindou Town, Shajiadian Town, Long Town, Guoxingzhuang Town, and Dujiashigou Town. It extends east to Xiaosizhe Village in Tao Town, south to Ga’ergou Village in Chengjiao Town, west to Lüzegou Village in Guoxingzhuang Town, and north to Dujiayuan Village in Shajiadian Town. The geographical coordinates are between 109°49′–110°29′ east longitude and 37°39′–38°5′ north latitude. The total production area is 50,000 mu (approximately 3,333 hectares), with an annual output of 150,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: Mizhi Red Onion grows in clusters, with plants about 70 cm tall. Its root system is well-developed and white-filamentous. The stem is thick, columnar, about 30 cm long, and the underground part turns red upon maturation, while the inner flesh is white and fine-textured. The leaves are thick, tough, tubular, long-conical, and dark green. The flower stem is cylindrical and hollow. Instead of producing seeds, the flower stem develops numerous small aerial bulbils from floral organs, which then grow into multiple concentric small onions. These small onion plants further develop concentric small onions at their terminal buds, with some flower stems supporting 3–4 layers of small onion plants, giving them a dragon claw-like appearance. The roots, stems, and leaves of Mizhi Red Onion are intensely pungent with a lingering aftertaste. 2. Unique Internal Quality Indicators: Vitamin C content is no less than 18 mg/100g, zinc no less than 5.5 mg/kg, and iron no less than 20 mg/kg. 3. Safety Requirements: The growing environment of Mizhi Red Onion complies with NY5010-2002 "Environmental Conditions for the Production Areas of Pollution-Free Vegetable Products." The production process strictly follows the "Organic Red Onion Production Technical Regulations," and pesticide residue testing is conducted in accordance with the "Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Law."