柿树原产我国，属柿树科柿树属落叶乔木。据后魏《齐民要术》记载：“黄柿出洛诸州”，柿树在荥阳有两千多年的栽培历史，因种植历史悠久、品种繁多，其果肉金黄、透亮柔软、含糖量高、鲜嫩脆甜，享有“荥阳柿子甲天下”之称。是河南省的柿树之乡，1993年与河阴石榴一并被评为郑州十大历史名产。
      
    １９９３年统计，荥阳市农柿间作１５万亩以上，共有柿树１１３万株，其中结果树５０万株，一般年产1.5万－2.5万吨，高产年时可达５万吨以上.主要产于市南部山岭区的贾峪、崔庙、乔楼、刘河、庙子、高山、汜水等八个乡。种植品种，涩柿主要为水柿、灰柿、八月黄、猪皮柿；甜柿为“日本富有”、“日本次郎”、“松本早生”和“湖北罗田”等八个品种。
      
    柿子含有较丰富的胡萝卜素、维生素Ｃ、葡萄糖、淀粉、蛋白质、脂肪和钙、磷、钾、多种元素，其维生素Ｃ、糖含量比一般水果高１－２倍，营养比较丰富。晒成饼，每５千克柿饼相当于４千克标粉或4.3千克大米所产生的热量。《乾隆.荥阳县志》记有：“今荥蚩蚩之众，为资生口食计，种柿者十之九，枣梨者十之一”，由此可见柿子又是一种较好的木本粮食。入药，能治胃病、止血、解酒毒，对降低血压、软化血管、治疗冠心病有一定疗效。柿霜糖又对咽喉痛、口舌生疮有很好的作用。其木材质坚硬，木纹细致，是制作机械、工具、家具、手工艺品的上好材料。其叶含有大量的维生素Ｃ与芦丁、胆碱、黄酮、甙等成分，制成柿叶茶饮用，可降血压、软血管、治疗冠心病有一定疗效。其延伸产品为柿饼、柿脯、柿霜糖、柿蜜酒、柿子醋、柿子醋饮等畅销国内并出口至日本及东南亚。
      
    长期以来荥阳柿品一直畅销全国，供不应求。为此荥阳市根据豫西农业综合开发和省农业厅水果带开发会议精神，决定在“九五”期间，把柿树作为主要树种，规划建立万亩柿子生产基地，并配套搞好产后系列加工，满足全国各地对这一传统名优产品的需要。


 

Xingyang Persimmons 

    
    Persimmon tree belongs to Ebenaceae, Diospyros and deciduous tree and has been cultivated in Xingyang City for more than 2000 years. Xingyang is the hometown of persimmons in Henan. Xingyang persimmon is regarded as the No.1 for its long history, large varieties, golden sarcocarp, high sugar content, soft and sweet flavor, which was evaluated as Zhengzhou ten historic and famous products with Heyin Pomegranate in 1993.
      
    This fruit is a treasure from head to foot. Persimmon trees are hard, fine and smooth, which are superior materials to make machines, tools, furniture and handicrafts. The leaves can make tea which has distinct medical effects. The fruits, full of rich nutrition, are regarded as good woody grain and made into medicines. Besides, they can be processed into dried persimmons, persimmon frost sugar, persimmon vinegar, etc, which all sell well in domestic and foreign markets.