Shuiliang shallow-water lotus root

Shuiliang shallow-water lotus root

Shuiliang shallow-water lotus root is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Shuiliang shallow-water lotus root is a specialty of Xiangshui County in Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province. The shallow-water lotus root from Xiangshui County has neither the bitter taste of southern varieties nor the slight sourness of northern ones. Instead, it features white color, tender texture, crispness, and a fragrant aroma, and is especially easy to process and store.

　　Xiangshui County is situated in the northeast of Jiangsu Province and falls within a continental monsoon climate zone at the southern edge of the warm temperate zone. It borders the Yellow Sea to the east, giving it slightly maritime climate characteristics—mild and moist with moderate rainfall, abundant sunshine, and a long frost-free period. Historically, the county was part of the Yellow River alluvial plain, and its soil is predominantly sandy loam, rich in phosphorus and high in readily available potassium. These unique climatic and soil conditions provide an ideal growing environment for shallow-water lotus root.

　　Xiangshui County has intensified efforts to adjust its agricultural industrial structure by designating shallow-water lotus root as a key industry. It has established production bases, supported leading enterprises, and developed sales markets, gradually forming large-scale production and advancing toward integrated production, processing, and marketing. In recent years, the county has cultivated over 30,000 mu of shallow-water lotus root. The Xiaojian Town has built a contiguous demonstration base for shallow-water lotus root within 500 meters of National Highway 204; six demonstration gardens totaling 6,000 mu have been developed across four villages—Sifeng, Tiandang, Fuxing, Guozhuang, and Caizhuang—with each village forming a contiguous lotus root cultivation belt of over 500 mu.

　　Xiangshui County has implemented a brand-driven strategy for its shallow-water lotus root. In 1998, it registered the “Sifeng” brand trademark for shallow-water lotus root and launched it on the internet. In 2002, it was recognized as a pollution-free agricultural product at the provincial level, and in 2003, it was recommended as a national pollution-free product. This helped the “Sifeng” brand shallow-water lotus root gain nationwide recognition and reach global markets, with direct sales to over 20 provinces and cities. It also established stable supply relationships with food processing companies and vegetable wholesale markets in more than 10 large and medium-sized cities across the province and beyond, creating fixed supply channels and increasing market share.