Jiachang Walnuts

Jiachang Walnuts

Jiachang Walnuts are a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　The cultivation of walnuts in Jiachang County has a history of over a hundred years, initially spreading from areas such as Leijiadian and Heishanke to the entire Lingxia region. According to the Chronicles of Chengde Prefecture and the Chronicles of Lingyuan County: Lingnan (present-day Jiachang County) was abundant in walnuts, known for their thin shells and thick meat, attracting many buyers. As early as the late Qing Dynasty, Jiachang walnuts had gained widespread fame and were sold to Inner Mongolia, Suiyuan, and several provinces in inland China.

　　"Jiachang Walnuts Can Be Peeled by Hand"

　　 Jiachang County is located in the western part of Liaoning Province, where the Songling Mountain Range, an extension of the Yan Mountains, runs from southeast to northwest across the county, forming two terraced levels—Lingxia and Lingxia—with the northwest being higher and the southeast lower. The soil is limestone slope deposits with weak alkalinity. There are more than 40 rivers originating or flowing through the county, and 31 large, medium, and small reservoirs have been built within the county, with a total water storage capacity of 174 million cubic meters. Jiachang has a semi-humid continental monsoon climate, featuring distinct seasons: windy and dry springs with high evaporation and rapid warming; rainy and hot summers; less rain and rapidly cooling autumns; and cold, dry winters with little snow. The average annual precipitation is 566 mm; the average annual temperature is 8.2°C, the average total solar radiation is 144.5 kcal/cm², and the annual sunshine duration is 2,915 hours, making it one of the regions with the highest total solar radiation in northern China.

　　 Jiachang is located in the eastern coastal (near-coastal) sub-region—one of China’s six major walnut production areas. The Lingxia area, which covers half of the county’s land, includes 15 towns with an effective accumulated temperature above 10°C totaling 3,600°C to 3,750°C, and an average frost-free period of 161 days. This area is far from industrial zones and has nearly 100% vegetation coverage, making it the main production zone for Jiachang walnuts.

　　 The unique geographical and climatic environment has nurtured the distinctive qualities of Jiachang walnuts. Jiachang walnuts are cold-resistant and light-loving, with few pests or diseases. They generally begin to bear fruit between 3–5 years, and at their peak, a single tree can yield tens of thousands of walnuts. The climate cycle of Lingxia in Jiachang aligns with the growth cycle of walnuts. Abundant sunlight facilitates the conversion of light energy into bioenergy during the walnut growth process, and the weakly alkaline soil is highly suitable for walnut growth and fruit development. These exceptional natural conditions result in Jiachang walnuts that are uniformly sized, have smooth shells, and exhibit the full advantages of high-quality walnuts, with key biochemical and nutritional indicators surpassing national standards.

　　 Jiachang walnuts currently come in two series—"Liaoning" and "Gift"—with their main cultivars certified at the provincial or ministerial level. Based on shell thickness, they are further divided into "paper-shell walnuts" and "thin-shell walnuts": "paper-shell walnuts" have shells as thin as paper and can be opened with a finger pinch; due to the degeneration of the inner septum, the kernel remains intact when opened; "thin-shell walnuts" can be cracked open by hand, yielding either a whole or half kernel. Hence, there is a local saying: "Jiachang walnuts can be peeled by hand." Since 1993, Jiachang walnuts have repeatedly won top awards at domestic and international agricultural product expos and exhibitions. Their market purchase price has reached 20–30 yuan per jin, with demand outstripping supply.

　　Planning in a Coordinated Manner to Build a Featured Agricultural Leading Industry

　　 For a long time, Jiachang walnuts were grown sporadically by a small number of farmers and sold locally. Until the 1950s, only seven towns including Leijiadian grew them. In 1956, there were only 5,700 walnut trees in the entire county, and fewer than 7,000 in 1958. After the 1980s, driven by the reform and opening-up movement, the development of Jiachang’s walnut industry began to accelerate. Under the guidance of the Liaoning Economic Forest Research Institute, walnut planting in Leijiadian Township gradually scaled up. By 2009, the township had achieved 10,200 acres of high-quality walnut cultivation, earning it the title of “Northeast China’s No. 1 Walnut Township” from experts. However, that year, the total walnut cultivation area in the county was only 12,000 acres, with a total output of 700,000 kg and sales revenue of 4.2 million yuan.

　　 Jiachang is a typical agricultural county. Of its 620,000 population, over 85% are engaged in agriculture, making agriculture the foundation of Jiachang’s comprehensive development. Although featured agricultural products represented by Jiachang walnuts have long enjoyed a good reputation, on the whole, the featured agricultural economy has yet to become a large-scale industry. The main reason Jiachang walnuts remained “hidden in the mountains unknown to the world” was the low yield and insufficient market influence. Entering the 21st century, Jiachang County fully launched a project to develop its featured agriculture. The county Party committee and government prioritized the walnut industry as an advantageous sector, formulating the “Special Action Plan for Enriching the People and Strengthening the County through Science and Technology.” This plan received unanimous praise from the expert consultation and evaluation group of the provincial science and technology department and was approved for implementation by the Ministry of Science and Technology. Guided by various support policies and inspired by the success stories of specialized walnut growers, Jiachang farmers have become increasingly enthusiastic about walnut cultivation, gradually shifting from scattered household planting to the formation of specialized cooperatives on a larger scale. By 2009, the county had established three walnut professional cooperatives and eight walnut industry associations.

　　 In November 2009, based on an in-depth survey of suitable planting land across the county, Jiachang formulated the “Walnut Industry Development Plan” for 2010–2013, setting a goal of investing 106 million yuan over four years to promote the cultivation of 100,000 acres of high-quality walnuts and achieve an output value of 495 million yuan. According to the plan, a “Walnut Economic Forest Base Construction Leadership Group,” headed by County Chief Fan Dacheng, was formed. Multiple support policies were introduced, advanced planting techniques were promoted, large-scale operations were encouraged, and intellectual property protection was strengthened.

　　 The introduction of the “Plan” injected new momentum into the development of Jiachang’s walnut industry. Farmers in the 16 towns covered by the plan showed unprecedented enthusiasm for planting walnuts. In the same year the plan was launched, the 260-acre “Jiachang County High-Quality Walnut Breeding Center” was completed, and its 1 million high-quality walnut seedlings will be ready for distribution to growers in spring 2011.

　　 In 2010, the “Jiachang Walnut” geographical indication was approved by the National Trademark Office. The county Administration for Industry and Commerce is organizing the design and formulation of geographical indication labels, product packaging, testing standards, and related management measures for Jiachang walnuts to ensure the healthy and sustainable development of the walnut industry.

　　Advanced Technology Becomes a Strong Driving Force for the “Jiachang Walnut” Industry

　　 In the greenhouse of the Jiachang County High-Quality Walnut Breeding Center, reporters saw 1 million lush, vibrant green walnut seedlings. The center’s director, Liang Zhengxi, a local forestry expert who has been researching walnut cultivation since 1999, explained that this center serves as an experimental base for the Liaoning Economic Forest Research Institute. The one million seedlings here have all undergone repeated screening and are superior varieties well-suited to the soil and climate conditions of Lingxia in Jiachang. The center is equipped with awakening rooms, constant-temperature storage, and grafting rooms—all regulated by central air conditioning, with a total investment exceeding 46 million yuan.

　　 The county forestry bureau’s cooperative production office recruited three graduates from agricultural colleges to specialize in the research and promotion of walnut planting techniques. In May 2010, the county science association, science and technology bureau, and forestry bureau jointly held a training session on high-yield walnut cultivation techniques at the walnut seedling base in Datun Town. They invited Professor Wang Shihai, a walnut expert from the Dalian Economic Forest Research Institute, to give lectures to over 70 walnut growers from ten towns. The county science association also deployed its science outreach vehicle, using visual boards and video presentations to teach professional farmers about walnut cultivation and management, while local technicians explained intercropping methods with Chinese medicinal herbs. Such training sessions are frequently held in Jiachang.

　　 The county government has implemented policies to encourage and guide farmers to plant scientifically and manage carefully. Walnut growers must pay a 3-yuan deposit for each seedling they receive from the breeding center. If the survival rate reaches 95% in the first year, one yuan is refunded; if it reaches 85% in the second year, another yuan is refunded; the third year follows the same policy. If the survival rate remains at 85% in the fourth year, the government rewards one yuan for each surviving seedling.

　　 On December 31, 2008, Liu Hanjun, a walnut grower in Leijiadian Township, called the township Party secretary to offer each staff member a 100-yuan bonus. While walnut trees can be intercropped with certain low-stem crops during their growth and fruiting periods, they are not suitable for intercropping with tall-stem crops. That year, Liu planted corn among his walnut trees. The township leaders persuaded—and then compelled—him to remove the corn, which he strongly resisted at the time. However, his walnut harvest turned out to be bountiful that year, earning him over 20,000 yuan. He wanted to show his gratitude to the township government by giving out bonuses, but after being refused, he had a banner made and bought cigarettes to present to the township government and forestry station the very next day, January 1, 2009. Soon after, he invited Jiachang County TV Station to film a news segment about how the township government helped him plant walnuts scientifically. Once the story aired, it generated very positive

　　feedback locally.

　　 Science has brought tangible benefits to Jiachang’s professional walnut growers. Today, learning and applying advanced technology has become a prevailing trend in the county’s main walnut-growing areas.

　　 2010 marked the first year of implementing the “Walnut Industry Development Plan” in Jiachang County. The outlook is promising. Jiachang walnuts, with their century-long history, are becoming a locally distinctive and competitive industry.