Peninsula reporter Huang Dongmei
In Chengyang and even Qingdao, when it comes to red apricots, many people will think of red apricots in Shaoshan for the first time. The red apricots in shaoshan community in Xiazhuang Street have been cultivated for more than 600 years, and the mature red apricots are large and sweet and juicy, and are deeply loved by people. The community is located in the western foothills of Laoshan Mountain, and its unique geographical location, soil conditions and climatic environment have created the unique quality of red apricots.
It is understood that the red apricots in Shaoshan have matured in large quantities, which is the best time for red apricots to be picked, and the picking period probably lasts until the beginning of July. This year's production of red apricots in Shaoshan is similar to that of previous years, and the single apricot tree with the largest yield can reach more than 600 catties, and the total output is expected to reach 4 million catties.
At present, there are more than 10 varieties of red apricots planted in shaoshan community, such as zuoshi, large wheat yellow, Shaoshan No. 2, Guan Ye face, and Shaoshan red. Among them, the most popular are Guan Ye Face, Shaoshan No. 2, Shaoshan Red, Barley Yellow 4 varieties, the price is between 8 yuan and 15 yuan per catty, and the tourists enter the park to pick 20 yuan per person.
Every year, when the red apricots are ripe, SF Express will set up a temporary outlet at the entrance of Shaoshan Community two or three days in advance to provide transportation services for residents. The daughter of Mr. Zhou, a resident, works in the field and has been hungry for red apricots in his hometown for a long time, so as soon as the apricots are ripe, Mr. Zhou sends two large boxes to his daughter. This is the second time to send, the packaging process couple from time to time to tell the courier, packaging more meticulous.
After the red apricots ripen, many tourists come to the Shaoshan community every day, either picking or buying them themselves. Tourist Ms. Zhang is a big fan of Shaoshan red apricots, every year the red apricots are ripe, she has to come here with her friends, eat enough and then buy a few boxes to go home, the elderly and children at home are very fond of eating.
Selling apricots is the most important source of income for 72-year-old Gao Dunfang and his wife in a year, his family has planted more than 100 apricot trees, and this year's harvest is good, which means that in the second half of the year, the couple can be self-sufficient and do not have to add burdens to their children, so the old couple is full of energy.
The 64-year-old Wang Meihua and her husband have a clear division of labor, the husband is responsible for picking, she is responsible for selling. She had sold more than 200 pounds in the morning, and at noon Wang Meihua did not go home to rest, but continued to guard her stall, eating two apricots when hungry and thirsty. Asked about this year's sales, she frankly said that basically do not worry, online and offline synchronously, selling three hundred to four hundred pounds a day is no problem, even this year's late cooked "Guan Ye face", although it has not been listed in batches, many people have booked with her in advance.
In the Shaoshan community, at a glance, the mountains are dotted with golden apricots.
Xu Liqiang is the president of the Chengyang District Wildlife Conservation Association and a native of shaoshan community, and he knows nothing more about shaoshan red apricots. He said that the variety of "Guan Ye Face" is the oldest and the most delicious. According to legend, during the Ming Dynasty's Wanli Dynasty, Huang Jiashan, the official of the Huang clan of the Mowang clan, paid homage to the prince Taibao and Bingbu Shangshu, and returned to the province to return to Beijing with red apricots to the Wanli Emperor. After tasting it, the Wanli Emperor looked at its shape and color, and gave it "Guan Ye Face Apricot", which has been passed down through the world ever since.
At this time in previous years, one of the most famous varieties of Red Apricot in Shaoshan, called "Guan Ye Face", has matured, because this year's rainfall has increased, resulting in a decrease in surface temperature, so the ripening period has been delayed by about a week. "Since it is not cooked thoroughly now, it is a little sour and a little hard to eat, and it is most appropriate to eat it in 7 or 8 days." Xu Liqiang introduced. The picture is the "Guan Ye face" that is about to mature, can you tell the difference?
As the saying goes, "peaches nourish people, apricots hurt people", in this regard, Xu Liqiang, who grew up from snack apricots, also expressed his opinion, and studies have shown that apricots are the most abundant fruits of vitamin B17. When it is not cooked thoroughly, it is sour to eat, which is indeed not good for the stomach, and it is no harm to the body to eat when the apricot is fully ripe. Therefore, to eat apricots, you must eat fully cooked.
"Guan Ye Face" apricot because it is more difficult to care, the yield is not high, easy to damage, the Shaoshan community now grows this variety of fruit farmers very few, so the "Guan Ye Face" apricot market is often in short supply, the price is higher. On how to distinguish the difference between "Guan Ye face" apricots and other varieties, Xu Liqiang said that the two petals of the "Guan Ye face" apricot are broken open, which is a large and a small uneven, and there are two sides of yin and yang, the yang side is red, the yin side is yellow, the juice is more, no matter how ripe, the pulp is non-sticky to the core.
In recent years, driven by the influence of ecological protection volunteers such as Xu Liqiang, the awareness of harmonious coexistence between residents of Shaoshan community and nature has become stronger and stronger. In the apricot forest, you can see all kinds of artificial bird nests everywhere, and all kinds of birds breed in them. "After more birds, the insect pests in the apricot forest are naturally less, which can fundamentally reduce the use of pesticides, after all, we are not only pursuing the big and sweet red apricot, but paying more attention to its green and high quality." Xu Liqiang said.