Fuling looks to spice up economy with pickle

The Fuling district government in Chongqing municipality hopes to boost agricultural, tourism and industry by spicing up the pickle sector, local authorities said.

Pickle production reached 430,000 tons, worth achieving a total industrial output value of 8.5 billion yuan ($1.4 billion).

Since winning a gold award at the Panama-Pacific International Expo in 1915, the Fuling pickle, or Fuling zhacai, has ranked alongside Europe's pickled cucumber and Germany's sauerkraut as the world's three most famous pickled dishes.

Known as the "Home of Pickle", Fuling has introduced the Fuling zhacai to more than 50 countries and regions, including Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States.

Qin Min, Party chief of the Fuling, said the district will make the most of the "Fuling zhacai" brand and will also build a zhacai-themed base, with a street and museum dedicated to the pickle.

"Fuling has a population of 1.16 million, and about 60,000 people make a living from the Fuling zhacai," said Huang Hua, deputy head of the district.

According to Huang, Fuling will focus on developing Fuling zhacai-related business to boost agriculture, tourism and industry.