Xingcheng Peanuts

Xingcheng Peanuts

Xingcheng Peanuts are a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Hongyazi Peanuts, also known as Xingcheng Peanuts, are a specialty of Xingcheng City, Liaoning Province. Named after their main production area in Hongyazi Township of the county, these peanuts are a Chinese national 图1 Hongyazi Peanut fruit

　　.geographical indication product. They are rich in trace elements, have a bright color, a sweet taste, and the lowest domestic level of aflatoxin, making them high-quality and widely exported to Russia, Japan, and South Korea, where they are very popular.

　　Xingcheng has a long history of peanut cultivation, with large-scale planting introduced as early as the 1920s. In 1931, the planted area in the county reached 3,000 mu, yielding 110 kilograms per mu, with a total output of 330,000 kilograms. By the 1950s, the planting area had expanded to 150,000 mu, producing 16,500 tons annually. In 2010, the planting area reached 200,000 mu, with new varieties covering 100,000 mu, yielding 200 kilograms per mu and an annual output of 60,000 tons. There is also a new variety breeding base of 13,300 mu. The main production areas are in Hongyazi, Jianchang, Wanghai, Weiping, and Shahuosuo townships.

　　High yields have led to a large market. Every year, over 55,000 tons of peanuts are sold at the Hongyazi Peanut Market. Besides local sources, peanuts from Suizhong, Lianshan, and Linghai within the province, as well as some from Henan and Jilin provinces, are also processed and exported through the Hongyazi Market. The Hongyazi Peanut Market has become a distribution hub for peanut processing and sales in Northeast China and is a nationally renowned peanut market.

　　Quality Characteristics

　　　　Through multiple improvements and generational updates, Xingcheng Peanuts have evolved from the earliest Pi Yi variety into more than ten different types. Due to specific factors such as climate and soil, Xingcheng Peanuts are highly nutritious, with 44–45% fat content, 40–43% oil extraction rate, 24–36% protein content, and 10–24% carbohydrates. They are rich in essential human vitamins such as Vitamin E, as well as inorganic salts like calcium, zinc, iron, and strontium. They help lower cholesterol, prevent arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and aid digestion. The Four-Kernel Red Peanut is especially popular for its high trace element content, bright color, and sweet taste.

　　The peanuts produced in Xingcheng have the lowest domestic level of aflatoxin, less than 4 ppb. They are high-quality and widely exported to Russia, Japan, and South Korea.

　　Growing Environment

　　　　Hongyazi Township is located in the central part of Xingcheng City, Liaoning Province. The township governs 26 villages, with a farming population of 30,000 and a total arable land area of 75,000 mu. It is a low mountain and hilly area, with most land consisting of hilly sandy loam. Most cultivated land is graded 5–6, which is quite suitable for peanut cultivation. In recent years, as drought conditions in western Liaoning have worsened, natural precipitation has decreased and groundwater levels have dropped, causing serious losses to drought-resistant crops such as corn and sorghum that require large amounts of water. As a result, the township has accelerated adjustments to its agricultural structure and significantly expanded peanut cultivation.

　　Production Area

　　　　The geographical indication product protection area for Hongyazi Peanuts covers seven townships in Xingcheng City, Liaoning Province: Hongyazi Township, Wanghai Township, Guojia Town, Weiping Township, Nanda Township, Shahuosuo Town, and Jianchang Township.