Keshan Potatoes

Keshan Potatoes

Keshan Potatoes are a protected geographical indication product.

Keshan Potatoes are a certified geographical indication trademark.

Keshan Potatoes are an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　Keshan County in Heilongjiang Province is known as the "Hometown of Potatoes." The county's terrain mainly consists of undulating hills and plains. The overall topography trends higher in the northeast with rolling hills, and lower in the southwest with wavy, expansive plains. Keshan’s soil is leached black calcareous soil—soft, fertile, rich in humus, and high in organic matter, often referred to as the "Pearl of Black Soil," with a pH value between 6.8–7.0, organic matter content of 4.0%, available nitrogen of 80–150 ppm, available phosphorus of 14–30 ppm, and available potassium exceeding 150 ppm. This soil and terrain are highly suitable for potato cultivation.

　　The county has five rivers: the Nemoer River, the Wuyuer River, the Runjin River, the Aolonggou, and the Taixi River. These rivers hold ample, unpolluted water in summer, making them ideal for irrigation.

　　Keshan is located within the third and fourth accumulated temperature zones of Heilongjiang Province, characterized by a mid-cold temperate continental monsoon climate. It enjoys an average annual sunshine duration of 2,709.9 hours, an average annual temperature of 1.1°C, an effective accumulated temperature above 10°C of 2,500°C, a frost-free period of 125 days per year, and an average annual rainfall of 550 mm, concentrated in June to August—the peak period when potato tubers require abundant water for growth. These climatic features align well with potatoes’ physiological needs: cool temperatures, long daylight hours, and high water and nutrient demands during tuber expansion.

　　The main varieties of Keshan Potatoes include Heifeng and Huangmazi. Known for their large size, excellent taste, and high starch content, they are widely favored by consumers and preferred by many vegetable wholesalers and retailers.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Keshan County boasts superior natural conditions. Located in the northwest of Heilongjiang Province and the northeast of Qiqihar, it lies in the transitional zone from the Lesser Khingan Mountains to the Songnen Plain. Its coordinates span 125°10′57″ to 126°8′18″ east longitude and 47°50′51″ to 48°33′47″ north latitude, with elevations between 198.7 meters and 381.7 meters, featuring undulating hills and plains. The total land area is 314,000 hectares, including 202,000 hectares of arable land. The protected area for the agricultural geographical indication of Keshan Potatoes covers 10 of the county’s 15 townships: Gucheng Town, Shuanghe Township, Henan Township, Hebei Township, Xianghua Township, Gubei Township, Beilian Town, Shuguang Township, Beixing Town, and Keshan Town. These areas include 80 administrative villages, cover a protected region of 200,000 hectares, with 27,000 hectares dedicated to potato production, yielding a total output of 800,000 tons.

　　2 Natural Ecological Environment

　　(1) Soil and Terrain: The county’s terrain mainly consists of undulating hills and plains. The overall topography trends higher in the northeast with rolling hills, and lower in the southwest with wavy, expansive plains. Keshan’s soil is leached black calcareous soil—soft, fertile, rich in humus, and high in organic matter, often referred to as the "Pearl of Black Soil," with a pH value between 6.8–7.0, organic matter content of 4.0%, available nitrogen of 80–150 ppm, available phosphorus of 14–30 ppm, and available potassium exceeding 150 ppm. This soil and terrain are highly suitable for potato cultivation.

　　(2) Hydrology: The area is a typical undulating hill and plain region, with total surface runoff and groundwater reaching 411 million cubic meters, of which 244 million cubic meters are usable. The county has five rivers: the Nemoer River, the Wuyuer River, the Runjin River, the Aolonggou, and the Taixi River. These rivers hold ample, unpolluted water in summer, making them ideal for irrigation.

　　(3) Climate: Keshan is located within the third and fourth accumulated temperature zones of Heilongjiang Province, characterized by a mid-cold temperate continental monsoon climate. It enjoys an average annual sunshine duration of 2,709.9 hours, an average annual temperature of 1.1°C, an effective accumulated temperature above 10°C of 2,500°C, a frost-free period of 125 days per year, and an average annual rainfall of 550 mm, concentrated in June to August—the peak period when potato tubers require abundant water for growth. These climatic features align well with potatoes’ physiological needs: cool temperatures, long daylight hours, and high water and nutrient demands during tuber expansion.

　　(4) Human and Historical Background: Potato production in Keshan began in the late Qing Dynasty, with a history of about 100 years. Farming households across rural areas have long experience in growing potatoes. Thanks to favorable natural conditions, planting areas have continuously expanded. Especially after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, three major variety replacements significantly increased both acreage and yield. Since the 1960s, Keshan has been a national base for seed potato production and a distribution hub for commercial potatoes. In 2005, Keshan was the sole on-site visit location during the China Potato Annual Conference, and the “Heilongjiang Potato Improvement Center” within Keshan was promoted to the “National Potato Improvement Center.” In recent years, Keshan has intensified land transfer efforts, fostering contiguous, large-scale planting organized by forest belt grids and adopting unified planting with separate harvesting methods, greatly improving cultivation standards.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Field Selection: Implement crop rotation for at least three seasons, using legumes, wheat, corn, etc., as preceding crops. Choose fields with deep plowing foundations, loose soil, and good drainage. Suitable pH ranges from 5.0 to 7. Wheat and corn stubble are most suitable, followed by soybean and grain stubble. Avoid sugar beet stubble and prohibit continuous cropping with solanaceous plants.

　　(2) Variety Selection: Choose representative local main cultivars. Based on the use of virus-free seed potatoes, select varieties according to intended use. Before the 1990s, Keshan mainly grew varieties such as Kexin 1, Kexin 2, Kexin 4, and Kexin 12, which were limited in number, mostly for commercial use, with few high-quality processing types. After the 1990s, new superior varieties were introduced, expanding the K-series to over 20 diverse strains, along with imported varieties like Early White and Atlantic.

　　(3) Key Technical Controls: Based on strict field and variety selection, widely apply virus-free seed potato technology; promote deep plowing and soil loosening; implement soil testing and formulated fertilization; adopt wide-row cultivation techniques; use only pollution-free fertilizers and pesticides, with farmyard manure undergoing non-polluting treatment; achieve full mechanization in seeding, management, and harvesting.

　　(4) Product Harvesting: Harvest when all above-ground stems and leaves turn completely yellow and tuber expansion ceases, timing according to market, delivery, or storage needs. One week before harvest, kill the vines. Freshly harvested potatoes should be thoroughly air-dried until their skins are suberized before transportation or storage.

　　(5) Production Record Requirements: Maintain detailed records of production locations, soil tillage history, machinery used, fertilizer types and application methods, timing and amounts, pesticide names and application methods and timing, as well as dates for harvesting, storage, and sales.

　　Product Quality Characteristics and Safety Standards

　　(1) External Sensory Features: Potatoes are round or oval in shape, with netted skin, yellow or white flesh, shallow eyes, and are suitable for fresh consumption or cooking. When boiled, they emit a rich aroma, with a smooth and flavorful taste and unique flavor profile. Their fragrance spreads through the kitchen while cooking, offering a pleasant texture without easily breaking apart. Keshan Potatoes are nutritionally complete and are representative of China’s potato industry, enjoying a strong reputation both domestically and internationally.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: Keshan Potatoes are especially rich in starch, protein, iron, vitamin C, B1, and B2. Starch content typically averages around 17%, with dry matter around 21.5%. 2,500g of fresh potatoes contain 42g of protein, 15.5g of fat, 615g of carbohydrates, 2,770 calories, 31g of crude fiber, 1,586.5g of minerals, and 452.05mg of vitamins.

　　(3) Safety Requirements: Ensure environmental protection so that production bases meet national standards for pollution-free potato farming: ambient quality must comply with NY5010-2002 standards, and product quality must meet the pollution-free food tuber vegetable standards of NY5221-2005. Establish environmental protection systems. Strictly control the establishment of new industrial or mining pollution sources within a 5 km radius of the base and a 20 km upwind range to prevent industrial “three wastes” from contaminating the base. Set up environmental protection signs. Within the designated area, livestock farm waste must undergo harmless treatment, and farmyard manure applied must be fully composted at high temperatures to ensure it is non-hazardous.

　　Packaging and Labeling Regulations

　　(1) Packaging: Two packaging methods are used—box packaging and bag packaging.

　　(2) Labeling: Users of the mark shall uniformly display the agricultural geographical indication (a combined label format of the Keshan Potato name and public identification symbol) on their products or packaging.