Pengyang Apricots

Pengyang Apricots

Pengyang Apricots are a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　The saying "The Yellow River enriches Ningxia" is familiar to locals in Ningxia. Thanks to the irrigation of the Yellow River, the region produces many special local products, such as the well-known goji berries, red wine, carpets, and pigeon fish. Today, I’d like to introduce another specialty: the apricots from Pengyang. When it comes to apricots, the most intuitive impression people have is that they are orange-colored and small. Of course, apricots can be eaten fresh, but they can also be processed into other products such as licorice apricots, dried fruits, and dried apricots. Ningxia mountain apricots are a specialty of Pengyang County in Guyuan City, Ningxia. Locals here almost all know about licorice apricots—I remember eating them a lot when I was a child. So why are Pengyang’s apricots so famous? It turns out that Pengyang apricots are plump, have a great taste, and are especially rich in nutrients. The cultivation of apricots in Pengyang has a long history, and thanks to the region’s geographical location, the soil contains high levels of potassium, resulting in apricots that are particularly rich in this mineral. Not only are they high in potassium, but the apricot flesh also contains more vitamin C and selenium than ordinary apricots, while being low in sugar and having moderate acidity—their nutritional value is even higher than that of bananas. In addition to being eaten fresh, apricots can be processed into a variety of snacks, such as dried apricots, apricot preserves, dried fruits, fruit rolls, jams, etc. The flesh of the apricot is rich in protein, amino acids, and various vitamins needed by the human body, making it highly valuable for dietary health. Apricots not only offer nutritional benefits, but also have medicinal value—they hold an important place in traditional Chinese medicine, used to treat cold-induced lung conditions, promote saliva production and relieve thirst, moisten the lungs and dissolve phlegm, clear heat and detoxify, as well as help eliminate phlegm, suppress coughs, and lubricate the intestines.

　　Geographical Scope

　　The geographical scope of Pengyang Apricots includes 12 townships in our county: Baiyang Town, Honghe Township, Chengyang Township, Xinji Township, Caomiao Township, Gucheng Town, Mengyuan Township, Xiaocha Township, Fengzhuang Township, Jiaocha Township, Luowa Township, and Wangwa Town. The geographical coordinates are between 106°32'–106°58' east longitude and 35°41'–36°17' north latitude. The total land area of the county is 2,528.65 square kilometers, with cultivated land covering 66,867 hectares. The total planting area of the producing region is 740,000 mu, with currently 450,000 mu of bearing apricot orchards, yielding around 450,000 tons of fresh apricots (and 12,000 tons of dried apricots) in normal years.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: Pengyang apricots bloom in March, with fruits ripening from June to July. The fruits are regular in shape, nearly round, typically weighing about 35 grams per fruit. They are larger than plums, with golden-yellow skin that is glossy and shiny, thin-skinned with plenty of flesh and small pits. The flesh is soft, juicy, sweet and tangy with a pleasant aroma, and highly nutritious. The flesh can be eaten fresh and is rich in vitamin A and C. In addition to being eaten fresh, the apricots can be processed into dried apricots, apricot preserves, dried flesh, licorice apricots, apricot pulp, and can also be used for making wine or vinegar. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Pengyang apricots are sweet and juicy. Per 100 grams of edible apricot flesh, they contain 1.2–6.00% fructose, 0.4–0.9% titratable acid, 10–14% soluble solids, as well as abundant vitamin A, C, cellulose, hemicellulose, and trace amounts of tartaric and oxalic acids. They are also considered a nutritious tonic and are highly favored by people. 3. Quality and Safety Requirements: Standards for air, irrigation water, surface water, and pesticide use comply with NY5240—2004 "Pollution-Free Food Apricot Production Environment Conditions Standard", GB5084—2005 "Agricultural Irrigation Water Quality Standard", GB3095－1982 "Ambient Air Quality Standard" (Grade I), GB15618-1995 "Soil Environmental Quality Standard" (Grade II), GB3838-1988 "Surface Water Environmental Quality Standard", and GB4285-1989 "Pesticide Safe Use Standard".