Zhuanghe Xiemaxing Apricots

Zhuanghe Xiemaxing Apricots

　　Zhuanghe Xiemaxing Apricots

　　　　Xiemaxing apricots have a history of over 100 years in Zhuanghe. Renowned for their large size, bright yellow color, balanced sweet-and-sour flavor, and rich content of various vitamins, coupled with their tender, dense, and thick flesh that separates easily from the pit, they are celebrated as the “jewel among apricots.” In 2008, the national government awarded Xiemaxing apricots the status of a National Standard Demonstration Zone.

　　Xiema Village in Taipingling Township, Zhuanghe City, Dalian, is located 20 kilometers north of Zhuanghe’s urban area. It enjoys convenient transportation, abundant resources, and a superior environment. The village has a population of 2,445 people, with a land area of 6,733 mu and a per capita land allocation of 2.8 mu. The per capita income reaches 8,000 yuan. Xiemaxing apricots have become the dominant industry, with 220,000 Xiemaxing apricot trees currently cultivated, averaging 200 trees per person.

　　　　Xiemaxing apricots are exclusively produced in Xiema Village, Taipingling Township, Zhuanghe City. Due to their specific requirements for soil and climatic conditions, they can only thrive in the low hilly terrain, small basin climate, and brown forest soil of Xiemashan. When planted outside Xiemashan, they lose their unique qualities—akin to how oranges grow in the south of the Yangtze River but become bitter oranges in the north. Their quality, taste, nutrition, and functionality rank first among all types of apricots, earning them the title of the “king of apricots.”

　　　　Xiemaxing apricots are as large as peaches, golden in color, and often have a red blush at the top, hence they are also called red apricots. When ripe, Xiemaxing apricots are highly fragrant, with sweet, tender, juicy flesh that separates easily from the pit, offering an exceptional taste. They contain the highest level of vitamin B17 among all fruits, and their kernels are sweet and rich in selenium. Xiemaxing apricots are also abundant in vitamin C, vitamin E, and polyphenols, which help lower cholesterol, promote microcirculation, effectively prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, nourish the lungs, and offer certain beauty-enhancing benefits.

　　　　During the production process, Xiemaxing apricots are grown using organic fertilizer and sprayed with bio-based and mineral-based pesticides, meeting national pollution-free standards. In 2001, they were honored as a “Green Food” product and one of Zhuanghe City’s “Top Ten Agricultural Brands.” In 2002, Xiemaxing apricots were recognized by Dalian City as “pollution-free” food. In the same year, the Zhuanghe Municipal Government included the industrial development of Xiemaxing apricots in the “Tenth Five-Year Development Plan Outline of Zhuanghe City.” In August 2003, the Zhuanghe Xiemaxing Apricot Technical Association was established to implement unified standards, technology, training, production, procurement, packaging, sales, and processing, thereby enhancing the level of industrialization. This formed an industrial chain where the government supports leading enterprises, leading enterprises drive bases, and bases connect with farmers. In October 2003, the National Standardization Management Committee officially approved the Zhuanghe Xiemaxing Apricot Standardized Production Demonstration Zone as a national agricultural standardization production demonstration project.