榨(zha)(zha)菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)一詞最(zui)早出現于清朝光緒(xu)二(er)十(shi)五年(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)1899),由涪陵商人邱壽安命(ming)名,意即“經鹽腌榨(zha)(zha)制過的(de)咸(xian)菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)”;并于當年(nian)首次將自己命(ming)名的(de)這種咸(xian)菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)產(chan)品(pin)投放(fang)宜昌市場獲得成功。這是“榨(zha)(zha)菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)”之名和(he)“榨(zha)(zha)菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)業(ye)”的(de)緣起。據清道光二(er)十(shi)五年(nian)(1845年(nian))《涪州志 物產(chan)》中關于“包(bao)包(bao)菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)”的(de)記載,以及有關的(de)民間(jian)傳(chuan)說推測,今涪陵區境內最(zui)晚在公(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)18世紀(ji)已出現青(qing)菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)頭(tou)(即包(bao)包(bao)菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai))的(de)廣泛種植和(he)加(jia)工(gong)成咸(xian)菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)供家庭食用(yong)。因青(qing)菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)頭(tou)腌菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)風味獨特(te),是眾(zhong)多咸(xian)菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)制品(pin)中的(de)珍品(pin),具有巨(ju)大的(de)歷史價(jia)值(zhi)(zhi)、文化(hua)價(jia)值(zhi)(zhi)、經濟價(jia)值(zhi)(zhi)。
民間(jian)原(yuan)始(shi)手工(gong)(gong)(gong)制(zhi)(zhi)作(zuo)榨(zha)菜(cai)雖然其品(pin)質優于現(xian)代機械化加(jia)(jia)工(gong)(gong)(gong)榨(zha)菜(cai),由于其全憑人(ren)工(gong)(gong)(gong)肩挑背磨、人(ren)工(gong)(gong)(gong)踩壓(ya)和手工(gong)(gong)(gong)操作(zuo),工(gong)(gong)(gong)藝繁雜、勞(lao)動強度大。更重要的(de)(de)是制(zhi)(zhi)作(zuo)原(yuan)始(shi)手工(gong)(gong)(gong)榨(zha)菜(cai)的(de)(de)老藝人(ren)已所(suo)剩無幾,隨(sui)著市場經濟的(de)(de)發展,農村勞(lao)動力轉移,三峽庫區河灘地淹沒,現(xian)代化生產(chan)加(jia)(jia)工(gong)(gong)(gong)水平的(de)(de)不斷提高,這(zhe)一寶貴(gui)的(de)(de)傳統手工(gong)(gong)(gong)制(zhi)(zhi)作(zuo)技藝面臨失傳,為了(le)繼承和發揚涪陵區、重慶(qing)市乃至我國(guo)馳名中外的(de)(de)非物質文化遺產(chan),必須采取(qu)有力措施(shi)加(jia)(jia)以保護。