Shuangwan Edible Sunflower

Shuangwan Edible Sunflower

Shuangwan Edible Sunflower is a product with geographical indication status.

　　1. Cultural and Historical Background. Jinchang has a long history. As early as over 4,000 years ago during the primitive clan society, humans lived and thrived here. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, it was grazing land for the Western Rong tribes. From the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period to the Qin Dynasty, the Yuezhi people were nomadic in this area. In the early Han Dynasty, it was under the jurisdiction of the Xiongnu chanyu (chieftain) Xiutu. From the establishment of counties by Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty to the early Yuan Dynasty, over a thousand years passed, during which counties and prefectures such as Wan’niao, Fanhe, Xianmei, Fanhe, and Yanzhi were established. The Yuan Dynasty established Yongchang Lu, the Ming Dynasty set up Yongchang Wei, and the Qing Dynasty changed it to Yongchang County. Jinchuan District was established in 1985 and is the seat of the Jinchang Municipal People's Government of Gansu Province. It is the political, economic, and cultural center of the city. Due to having the largest nickel reserves in the country, it is known as the "Nickel Capital" of the motherland. There are no detailed written records on when edible sunflower cultivation began in Jinchuan District. The earliest known historical document mentioning sunflowers is the "Qunfang Pu" (Collection of All Flowers) by Wang Xiangjin of the Ming Dynasty (1621), which did not yet use the name "sunflower" but referred to it as "Zhangju" (tall chrysanthemum) under the "Flower Spectrum III – Chrysanthemum" section. The original text reads: “Zhangju, also called Benfanju or Yingyanghua, has stems over ten feet tall, sturdy and thick as bamboo, leaves similar to hemp, mostly growing straight, though it may branch, usually bearing only one large flower the size of a plate, single-petaled, yellow in color, with a honeycomb-like central eye. By autumn, it gradually turns purple-black and becomes hard. Its seeds are very easy to grow. The flower is toxic and can cause miscarriage.” The name “sunflower” (Xiangriku, meaning "facing the sun") appeared in Wen Zhenheng’s "Changwu Zhi" (Treatise on Superfluous Things, circa 1635). In 1820, Xie Fang mentioned in "Huamu Xiaozhi" (Notes on Flowers and Trees) that sunflowers were found everywhere, serving both ornamental and edible purposes. Modern records indicate that sunflowers were introduced to China in the late 16th or early 17th century, initially planted sporadically as ornamental plants and minor oil crops. It wasn’t until after the founding of New China that they began to be cultivated on a larger scale. From the above historical records, we can see that China’s history of sunflower cultivation is long, and the planting history of “Shuangwan Edible Sunflower” likely began around this time as well. According to research, sunflower cultivation in Jinchuan District started during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. Recorded history of edible sunflower planting can be traced back to the early 1960s. From the founding of the PRC until before 2000, sunflower cultivation mainly occurred sporadically along field ridges and margins, using traditional varieties such as black sunflower seeds, white sunflower seeds, flower-type sunflower seeds, Yili early-maturing, Sandao Mei, Xinjiang large sunflower seeds, Neikenzajiao No.1, and Neikenzajiao No.2. Elders recall that before liberation, edible sunflower cultivation in Jinchuan District was limited, with only a few wealthy households planting sporadically. By the early 1960s, the planting area had developed somewhat but remained limited, with low yields mainly for household consumption. Hence, there was a local custom: “When relatives come, offer them a seat on the kang bed, and serve a plate of sunflower seeds on the table.” During festivals, weddings, and funerals, a plate of mixed sunflower seeds with candied fruit would always be placed on the dining table for guests to enjoy while chatting before meals, adding a festive and harmonious atmosphere. Edible sunflowers have been closely intertwined with the daily life and cultural development of the locals. 2. Current Status (1) Advantages of Matching New Varieties with Advanced Techniques The long cultivation history, traditional experience of local farmers in growing edible sunflowers, and the unique natural conditions of the planting region have made Shuangwan Edible Sunflowers renowned for their premium quality, earning Jinchuan District the title of “Hometown of Sunflowers.” To promote large-scale and industrialized production of Shuangwan Edible Sunflowers, local agricultural authorities began introducing American DK119, European oil sunflowers, and Kangdi oil sunflowers in 2000. After successful multiple cropping, planting areas expanded year by year, reaching 5,000 mu by 2003. In 2004, while promoting mulching film cultivation techniques, hybrid edible sunflower varieties were introduced, pushing the planting area beyond 10,000 mu. Hybrid varieties included RH3738, RH3708, RH118, and 737C, yielding about 250 kg per mu, with economic returns surpassing those of dominant local crops like watermelon and corn. Starting in 2006, to further improve economic benefits and develop the sunflower industry, our district’s agricultural departments introduced and tested many new high-yield, high-quality, good-tasting, large and full-seeded, disease-resistant varieties such as LD5009, Xianrui 316, SH815, RH316RT, and SH363. These varieties achieved yields as high as 350 kg per mu, with annual planting areas exceeding 30,000 mu. As the planting area and variety selection expanded and cultivation techniques improved, the economic returns from edible sunflowers became significant. The industry has become one of the main economic pillars of our district, characterized by strong regional features. The green fields of sunflowers symbolize the natural, ecological, vibrant life of the Jinchang land. Throughout the industry’s development, a group of technical professionals and “local experts” have emerged, and more farmers are joining the sunflower industry. The district now has 32 agricultural extension technicians, including 3 senior agronomists, 18 intermediate agronomists, and 11 assistant agronomists. With the rapid growth of the industry, there is an urgent need to strengthen the technical workforce and address key technical challenges. (2) Industrial Scale Advantages in Edible Sunflower Production To develop Shuangwan Edible Sunflowers into a pillar agricultural industry, through efforts by governments at all levels, a preliminary production base centered in Shuangwan Town and radiating outward has been established. As a specialty industry of Jinchang City and a pillar industry of Jinchuan District, it receives annual funding support from both city and district finances. Through the introduction and promotion of new varieties, research and demonstration of high-yield techniques, one-film double-use, no-till cultivation, soil testing and formula fertilization, drip irrigation under mulch, and intercropping, as well as support for processing enterprises, the “enterprise + base + farmer” development model has taken initial shape. In 2010, Jinchuan District applied for the “Jinchuan District Edible Sunflower Planting Standardization Demonstration Zone Project,” which was approved in February 2011 by the Gansu Provincial Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision as a provincial-level standardized demonstration project and is currently under implementation. In recent years, leveraging its proximity to urban areas, Jinchuan District has followed the strategy of “exemplary demonstration, scaled development, technological support, and association-driven growth.” Carefully organized and effectively implemented, the sunflower industry has shown signs of scaled, base-oriented development. Currently, the high yield and profitability of sunflower cultivation in Jinchuan District have greatly motivated some farmers and encouraged adjustments in industrial structure. A number of specialized teams and households engaged in sunflower production and marketing have emerged. After nearly 20 years of development, the planting area of edible sunflowers in Jinchuan District has reached 1,600 hectares, with an annual output of 6,000 tons and an annual output value of 36 million yuan. Two sunflower processing enterprises have been established: Jinyuan Melon Seeds and Ma Ji Melon Seeds, which are sold across the province and favored by consumers, producing about 80 tons of roasted seeds annually with sales exceeding 1.4 million yuan. Thirty-six specialized sunflower sales cooperatives have been formed. The sunflower has obtained pollution-free agricultural product certification and origin recognition. The “Jinchang City Pollution-Free Agricultural Product Edible Sunflower Production Technical Regulations” have been issued as a Gansu provincial local standard, providing a complete set of technical standards for the entire production process, ensuring technical and systemic support before, during, and after production. The main planting areas include 13 villages in Shuangwan Town—Chenjiagou, Xinliangdi, Xujia gou, Jinhe, Kangsheng, Xujia gou, Chenjiagou, Tianshengkang, Xinliangdi, Jiugejin, Longyuan, Longzhai—and four villages in Ningyuanbao Town: Xinhua, Youziwa, Xiàsìfēn, and Xin’an. In recent years, with adjustments in Jinchuan District’s rural industrial structure and rising living standards, demand for edible sunflowers has grown steadily, and the planting area of Shuangwan Edible Sunflowers has increased accordingly. The Jinchuan District government places special emphasis on building demonstration villages for sunflower cultivation, enhancing the role of standardized planting demonstrations, and integrating agricultural standardization techniques with soil testing and formula fertilization to achieve significant economic and demonstrative effects. Demonstration zones strictly follow the edible sunflower production technical regulations. Additionally, during the construction of standardized demonstration villages, agricultural inputs required by production areas are procured centrally through government guidance. This ensures product quality while reducing farmers’ production costs, achieving excellent economic and social benefits.

　　Region: Gansu

　　Applicant: Jinchuan District Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center

　　Region: 2013

　　Geographic Scope

　　Jinchuan District is located in the eastern part of the Hexi Corridor and the southern edge of the Tengger Desert, belonging to the Alxa Plateau. It borders Yongchang County to the south, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the north, Wuwei to the east, and Zhangye to the west. The ancient Silk Road passed through here, making it one of the cities along the New Eurasian Continental Bridge. The terrain is higher in the southwest and lower in the northeast, with the highest point at 3,052 meters and the lowest at 1,327 meters, and an average elevation of 1,500 meters. It is a residual hill and plain area, generally flat, sloping from northwest to southeast, with fertile soil and relatively abundant water resources. The East and West Great Rivers, formed by snowmelt from the Qilian Mountains, and the Jinchuan River, formed by springs in the suburbs of Yongchang County, flow through the area. Underground water resources are also plentiful, conducive to agricultural development. The total area is 3,770 square kilometers, with 129,300 mu of arable land and a population of 200,000, 69% of which are non-agricultural. The region enjoys ample light and heat resources and natural conditions highly suitable for sunflower growth. “Shuangwan Edible Sunflower” is well-known, with a saying: “Eating sunflower once every ten days smoothens the body, clears blocked qi in the five organs, and acts as the king of vegetables—you don’t even need to pair it with other foods.” The planting area of Shuangwan Edible Sunflower lies within the administrative region of Jinchuan District, including 13 villages in Shuangwan Town—Longkou, Gucheng, Yingpan, Jinhe, Kangsheng, Xujia gou, Chenjiagou, Tianshengkang, Xinliangdi, Jiugejin, Longyuan, Longzhai—and four villages in Ningyuanbao Town: Xinhua, Youziwa, Xiàsìfēn, and Xin’an. The geographic coordinates are between 102°15′ to 102°43′ east longitude and 38°15′ to 39°00′ north latitude, making it the main pollution-free agricultural product production base in Jinchuan District. Shuangwan Edible Sunflower is planted once a year, maintaining a planting area of around 1,600 hectares, with a total annual output of 6,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Features The sensory characteristics of “Shuangwan Edible Sunflower” can be summarized as follows: The seeds are long-conical, black-skinned with white edges and irregular white stripes. The seeds are 2.0–2.2 cm long and about 0.9 cm in diameter. They are plump, with a thousand-seed weight of around 180 g. They have good processing performance, do not shed skin when dry, and are of premium quality. They taste crispy and fragrant, leaving a lingering aroma in the mouth without being greasy. (2) Internal Quality Indicators The edible seeds of “Shuangwan Edible Sunflower” are relatively long, with black-and-white striped seed coats making up the majority. The seed coat is thick, accounting for over 40% of the seed weight. The thousand-seed weight is 100–200 g, and the hundred-seed weight is ≥14.0 g. The hull rate is ≤44.0%. Fat content is ≥41.0 g/100 g, protein content is ≥29.5 g/100 g, palmitic acid content is ≥1.2 g/100 g, linoleic acid content is ≥10.5 g/100 g, alpha-linolenic acid content is ≥0.02 g/100 g, selenium content is ≥16.0 μg/100 g, calcium content is ≥75.0 mg/100 g, and zinc content is ≥3.70 mg/100 g, indicating high nutritional value. (3) Safety Requirements The production environment of Shuangwan Edible Sunflower complies with DB62/T 798—2002 (Pollution-Free Agricultural Products – Environmental Quality of Production Areas). The product quality meets the NY5319-2006 (Pollution-Free Food – Melon Seeds) standard. The production process is controlled according to DB62/T 1960-2010 (Jinchang City Pollution-Free Agricultural Products Production Technical Regulations for Edible Sunflowers) and a series of technical specifications for production, processing, packaging, and storage of Shuangwan Edible Sunflowers. Pesticide use is rational, strictly prohibiting the use of highly toxic pesticides banned by the state, and adhering to pesticide safety intervals.