Northern Shaanxi Apples

Northern Shaanxi Apples

　　Northern Shaanxi features deep soil layers, an altitude of 800 to 1,100 meters, abundant sunlight, and significant day-night temperature variations, all of which are ideal conditions for apple cultivation and help the fruit accumulate sugar. The region produces apples that are large, brightly colored, crisp, sweet, resistant to storage and transport, and pollution-free. There are nearly 70 varieties, most of which are premium types such as Fuji, Red Delicious, and Red Chief. The total planting area across the region spans 1.4 million mu, with an annual yield of about 1 billion kilograms. Apples from Luochuan County are particularly renowned. The county has been designated by China’s Ministry of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce, and All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives as an apple export base. It is hailed as the “Hometown of Chinese Apples.” In 1974, Luochuan apples topped 237 samples nationwide in quality evaluations, surpassing the American Red Delicious — known as the top fruit brand in the U.S. — in all four physicochemical indicators and overall score, earning the title of the best in China. They were later chosen as the official fruit for the 11th Asian Games and, during the 1999 handover of Macau, were designated as the ceremonial gift apples. Today, Northern Shaanxi apples and their value-added products such as juice and dried apples have become famous specialties sold across China and are must-buy gifts for tourists visiting Yan’an. (Yan’an)