Asparagus

　　Yongji Asparagus, starting to be planted since 1980s, claims the planting record of 30 years. More than 100,000 mu (a unit of area, 1 mu≈667㎡) planting base has been completed in the period of 1996-2000. The export volume of Yongji Asparagus reached 35,000 tons as the highest in their history, which accounted for 75% gross volume of export in the year 2002. Yongji Asparagus gained a favorable reputation with its excellent quality by domestic and overseas consumers and merchandisers. It is regarded as the protective brand of the Geographical Indication by the General Administration of Quality Supervision in 2008. It was also identified as the Quality Safety Demonstration Plot by the National Export Inspection and Quarantine Bureau in March, 2014.

　　The Yellow River beach zone in Hejin part offers proper soil, altitude and sunlight for planting asparagus. Local peasants introduced superior variety of asparagus to the Yellow River beach zone as the planting and export base. There are 1800 tons of asparagus have been exported to France, Germany, Spain and other countries by far. Asparagus is not only one of the ten famous dishes, but also a kind of green healthy vegetable with the homology of medicine and food. Asparagus is tasty, valuable and rare and nutritious with normal sugars and rich in vitamins. It contains much more amino acid, calcium, potassium, iron and zinc than other vegetables. Additionally, it could prevent cancer cell, ensure vasodilation, keep diuretic and detoxifying, increase immunity, be anti-fatiquing and anti-aging and also a good therapy for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.