Wujiang Fragrant Green Vegetable

Wujiang Fragrant Green Vegetable

Wujiang Fragrant Green Vegetable is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Fragrant green vegetable is a traditional and rare local vegetable variety from Wujiang, with over 100 years of cultivation history. It boasts tender texture, delicate fragrance, and rich nutrition, making it highly favored by consumers. In 1999, it was included in Jiangsu Province’s Three Updates Project, in 2002 it obtained pollution-free agricultural product certification, and in 2003, the “Production Technical Regulations for Pollution-Free Fragrant Green Vegetables” was established, becoming a local standard in Jiangsu Province. In 2003, it was included in the National Agricultural Resources Development Program, and in 2009, it received national geographical indication certification. Through these projects, aiming to explore, utilize, and protect superior local germplasm resources, years of collection, purification, rejuvenation, and variety selection have improved the purity, disease resistance, and stress resistance of the fragrant green vegetable, while also preserving, utilizing, and developing the high-quality local resource. The fragrant green vegetable has a fresh and delicious taste, aromatic and flavorful, with a rich and fragrant aroma; it contains vitamin C ≥20mg/100g, total sugar ≥2.0%, and crude fiber ≤1.0%. The main varieties of Wujiang fragrant green vegetables include embroidered vein, yellow leaf fragrant green vegetable, and black leaf fragrant green vegetable. The perennial planting area of Wujiang fragrant green vegetables is 1,000 hectares, mainly in towns along Taihu Lake such as Hengshan, Qidu, Zhenze, and Taoyuan. The soil type is mainly silty soil, belonging to the percolation-type paddy soil, sub-percolation tidal muddy field subgroup, developed from recent river (lake) sediments with clear sedimentary layering, relatively high silt content in the particle composition, and a profile of A1-AP-P-C type. The soil color is light, with a texture of silty loam or clay loam. Silty soil is prone to compaction, releases nutrients quickly, is slightly acidic with a pH of 5.2–6.0, and while the surface layer may dry and whiten under sunlight, the subsoil remains moist—locally referred to as “night-wet mud.” Small-leaf fragrant green vegetables are available year-round, while large-leaf varieties are mainly on the market from December to April in the winter-spring season. Wujiang fragrant green vegetables are primarily supplied to hotels, restaurants, and farmers' markets in Wujiang, Suzhou, and Shanghai, with one-third of production based on orders. In the past, Wujiang fragrant green vegetables were even exported to Hong Kong and Singapore alongside Taihu crabs.

　　Fragrant green vegetable is one of the renowned vegetables of Wujiang County in Jiangsu Province. With its strong aroma, attractive color, and excellent nutrition, it has a unique flavor that is beloved by consumers. It is mainly grown in towns in the southern part of the county such as Zhenze and Badu. Since the 1980s, its cultivation has gradually expanded to central towns like Shengze and northern towns like Songling, and it is now widespread across the entire county. It is the fastest-developing among Wujiang’s three major traditional premium vegetables—the others being large-headed cabbage and small cucumber.

　　Wujiang Fragrant Green Vegetable

　　Geographic Scope

　　Wujiang fragrant green vegetables are produced in Qidu, Zhenze, Hengshan, and Taoyuan towns, parts of Pingwang, Shengze, and Songling towns located west of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in Wujiang City, Jiangsu Province. The total area covers approximately 588 square kilometers. Wujiang City is situated in the southeastern part of Jiangsu Province, with geographic coordinates between 120°42′–120°53′ east longitude and 30°47′–31°12′ north latitude. It is the southernmost part of Jiangsu Province, bordered by Taihu Lake to the west, Suzhou and Wuzhong District to the north, Qingpu District of Shanghai to the east, and Jiaxing City of Zhejiang Province to the south. The Grand Canal runs from north to south, and National Highway 318 stretches from east to west. The production area spans 1,000 hectares, with an annual yield of 20,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. Appearance: A leafy vegetable belonging to the Brassicaceae family, Brassica genus. The plant is semi-erect, with a semi-spreading and loose plant type, 25–35 cm in height, and a spread of 35–40 cm. The leaves are elliptical, with entire margins, wrinkled and wavy surfaces, distinct veins, and greenish-white flat petioles. The single plant weighs around 400 g. 2. Internal Quality: It has a fresh and delicious taste, aromatic and flavorful, with a rich and fragrant aroma; it contains vitamin C ≥20mg/100g, total sugar ≥2.0%, and crude fiber ≤1.0%.