Zhenyuan Apricots

Zhenyuan Apricots

　　Zhenyuan County is honored as the "Number One Apricot Hometown in the World." The cultivation of apricot trees here dates back 2,000 years, and the large, sweet fruits have enjoyed enduring popularity. In December 2004, the county was officially certified by the State Forestry Administration and awarded the title of "China's Apricot Hometown."

　　To expand and strengthen the local red apricot culture and industry, build the red apricot brand of Zhenyuan, and accelerate the development of the apricot industry, the county’s Party committee and related departments compiled and published the book "Zhenyuan: China’s Red Apricot Hometown." It is the county’s first comprehensive publication systematically exploring the origins, historical legacy, and industrial development of red apricot culture. The book was officially published and distributed in June 2005.

　　Apricots originated in northern China, particularly in the Jing River basin along the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River. They thrive in plains, mountains, hills, and even sandy wastelands. Zhenyuan County is located in the upper reaches of the Jing River basin, where favorable natural conditions provide an ideal habitat for apricot trees. With a cultivation history of approximately 3,000 years, the county even has a unique surname—"Apricot"—believed to have been granted by the Zhou royal family to a family that loved planting apricot trees, thus earning the name "Apricot." The existence of this surname reflects how deeply rooted apricot cultivation has been since ancient times. Throughout history, the people of Zhenyuan have associated apricots with prosperity and pride, planting them around homes, fields, and villages. Hence, the area has long been known as the "Hometown of Red Apricots." By the end of 2006, the county had developed 285,500 acres of apricot orchards, with 28.546 million trees, accounting for 65.5% of its total economic forest area. In 2006, the county produced 20.4 million kilograms of apricots, generating an output value of 30.6 million yuan and income of 19.89 million yuan, contributing 40.63 yuan per capita to net income. Due to extensive planting, apricot trees are widely distributed across diverse varieties. Traditionally, they are mainly categorized into wild mountain apricots and cultivated garden apricots, both originating from the same lineage. Planted in clusters, mountain apricots are mostly found on barren hills, valleys, and ridges in the northwest of the county. These areas are vast and play a significant role in soil conservation. Production focuses mainly on kernel apricots, yielding lower quantities and less commercial value. Garden apricots are concentrated around homes, field edges, mountain bends, and central to southern parts of the county. Thanks to years of cultivation, improvement, grafting, and management, most have become dual-purpose varieties for fresh consumption and processing, offering higher commercial value. Variations in ecological conditions, land quality, and cultivation techniques have led to significantly better growth and yield performance of apricot trees in the central and southern regions compared to the northwest.

　　Zhenyuan’s apricot product—apricot kernels—entered the international market as early as 1954, with an annual export volume of 20 tons, gaining widespread popularity. Since the reform and opening up, through re-evaluating and rediscovering the potential of apricot resources, and based on comprehensive feedback, research, and field studies, the county committed to developing the apricot economy as a leading industry for commodity production and a pillar for poverty alleviation. Over the past two decades, local governments at all levels have led residents to leverage their advantages and work diligently. With large-scale planting as the foundation and value-added processing as the breakthrough, efforts integrated planting, management, processing, and sales, combining agriculture, industry, commerce, and trade. Through persistent efforts, the small apricot has created significant impact. A complete apricot product processing industry chain has taken shape, with a sizable apricot economy becoming a key pillar of the county’s economic development. This has forged a successful path to prosperity uniquely suited to the resource characteristics of eastern Gansu. In 2006, the county produced 2.04 million kilograms of dried apricots and 2.55 million kilograms of apricot kernels. Its apricot output ranked second nationwide and first in the province, only behind Xinjiang’s Shahe County, which boasts vast wild apricot forests. At its peak, the county had 110 apricot product processing enterprises employing 5,400 workers. After corporate restructuring, there are now 26 such enterprises—1 collective and 25 private—employing 1,092 people. In addition to the two main products, cream-filled apricot flesh and licorice-flavored apricots, over 20 new products have been developed, including Eight-Treasure Apricots, 808 Fruit King, apricot cakes, natural honey apricots, grape-apricot kings, apricot preserves, and apricot jam. These have won 20 awards both domestically and internationally, and are sold in countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, France, and Canada, as well as in over 20 provinces and cities across China. In 2006, the county produced 10,190 tons of various apricot products, achieving an output value of 64.1 million yuan, sales revenue of 35.16 million yuan, profits and taxes of 1.879 million yuan, and paid 4.63 million yuan in employee wages.

　　Large-scale apricot tree planting not only beautifies the environment and regulates the climate but also helps prevent soil erosion. Every spring, when the hills and valleys are blanketed in blooming apricot blossoms and villages are surrounded by vibrant flowers, visitors are reminded of classical verses such as “Beyond the woods, the turtledove calls as spring rain ceases; atop the roof, the apricot blossoms bloom bright with sunrise,” or “Red apricot branches sway in the east wind, painting a village in a hue of red for miles.” The natural scenery is truly enchanting.

　　Through reform, industrial development, and leveraging favorable timing, location, and public support, the people of Zhenyuan have worked diligently, innovated, and strived forward, putting the industrial production of apricots on track. With integrated production, processing, and sales, and scaled development, Zhenyuan County was named “China’s Apricot Hometown” by the State Forestry Administration in 2004.