Lechang has a long history of producing high-quality taro, among which Zhangxi taro in Henan Town has the best quality. Zhangxi village is located on the right side of the exit of Shibatan, Kowloon, where a stream flows. The surface is broad and flat and the soil is sparse alluvial sandy loam. The soil is deep and fertile. The taro produced is fresh and tender, with betel nut patterns inside. After cooking, it is soft as cotton, and the aroma is overflowing, which makes people smell it. It has always been a famous dish for banquet guests. When many big hotels in the province, Hong Kong and Macao cook "taro braised pork", chefs often ask for a piece of taro by name. The original planting area of Zhangxi taro is more than 350 mu, with an annual output of about 280 tons. At present, it has been developed and expanded to 1 100 mu, with an annual output of more than 900 tons. (Shaoguan)
Zhangxi taro is produced in the north of Lechang, Lecheng Town, Changlai Town and Langtian Town. The taro planted in Zhangxi Village, Lechang Street, near the site of Zhao Tuo City, on the right bank of Lechang Xiakou, Wujiang River, is the most representative, hence the name Zhangxi taro.
Zhangxi has a long history of planting taro. According to the records of planting taro in Lechang County Chronicle, which was revised in the 5th year of Kangxi in Qing Dynasty (1666), Lechang has been planting taro for more than 340 years. In the 20th year of the Republic of China (193 1), the Records of Lechang County was re-edited, and it was recorded that the beauty of Guang taro was the first yellow taro, the second white taro and the second red taro. South taro is the most important, but South taro is big, purple, sandy and very edible. Parallel to sweet potatoes, such as rice, called rice. "South taro" is a west taro.
Zhangxi taro in Lechang City has a bulb weight ≥2.5kg and a length ≥ 30cm. Taro is regular in shape, spindle-shaped or cylindrical, with yellowish brown skin, thin and smooth skin, dense meat structure, powdery texture, crisp and slag-free, and rich taro flavor; Amylose ≥4.0%, amylopectin ≥ 15.0%, protein ≥2.0%. In 2008, after the protection of geographical indication products, the planting area reached 485 hectares, the total output was 982 1, and the average market price reached 10 yuan/kg, an increase of 25% compared with that before protection. The output value per mu is 1 10,000 yuan, and the average output value per hectare has reached 200,000 yuan, with a total output value of about 97 million yuan and a net income of about 84 million yuan, making nearly 3,500 farmers rich. Farmers in Zhangxi grow taro to get rich, and the reinforced concrete buildings commonly known as "taro building" are patchwork. Farmers get rich by taro, with complete household appliances and liquefied gas for cooking. It is not uncommon for farmers to own cars and motorcycles, and farmers take the lead in reaching a well-off level. The villagers all said, "this is a blessing for Zhang Xixiang." The development of Zhangxi taro promoted the development of rural economy. Products sell well in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Pearl River Delta and other places, and demand exceeds supply over the years.
In 2004, Zhangxi taro was awarded the certificate of pollution-free agricultural products by the Agricultural Products Quality and Safety Center of the Ministry of Agriculture. In 2006, he won the "Exhibition Certificate" of the first Guangdong Modern Agriculture Expo. In 2007, it won the title of "Shaoguan Three Treasures"; Won the "Best Quality Award" in the selection activity of "Guangdong people's favorite native products (planting)" sponsored by Southern Rural News; This was an eye-opener at the 2007 Tourism Promotion and Guangdong International Tourism Exhibition.
At present, the main production units of Zhangxi taro are: ① Changsheng taro production and circulation professional cooperative in Lechang: the registered trademark is "Cannonball" taro. In 2008, it was certified as pollution-free agricultural products by the Ministry of Agriculture, and 20 1 1 was certified as organic food. On 20 12, 1, Lechang Changsheng taro production and circulation professional cooperative base was recognized by Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau as a vegetable planting base for Hong Kong and Macao, and on 20 12, it was rated as Guangdong farmers' professional cooperative and provincial demonstration cooperative unit. ② Bao Yue Agricultural and Sideline Products Circulation Professional Cooperative in Lechang City: The registered trademark is "World Taro". The cooperative was awarded by the Ministry of Agriculture as the national model cooperative of farmers, by the Guangdong Provincial Department of Agriculture as the provincial model cooperative of farmers, and by Shaoguan Agricultural Bureau. Lechang City was awarded the honorable star by the Ministry of Agriculture and the processing demonstration society of national farmers' professional cooperatives, and Shaoguan City was awarded the series of taro, horseshoe and taro strips (slices) as China special agricultural products.
The scope of protection of geographical indication products of Zhangxi taro is subject to the scope proposed in the Letter of Guangdong Lechang Municipal People's Government on Suggestions on Delineating the Origin Range of Zhangxi taro (Yue Fu Han [2007] No.50), which is the administrative area of Lecheng Town, Langtian Town, Changlai Town and Beixiang Town in Lechang City, Guangdong Province.