相傳(chuan)寧縣地方(fang)特產——九龍金棗,在周代(dai)即作為(wei)方(fang)物(wu)進貢王(wang)室(shi),因(yin)(yin)而(er)得名(ming)“晉棗”。唐時武則天特別喜用(yong),因(yin)(yin)之聲名(ming)更加遠揚。
慶陽的棗(zao)(zao)(zao)主(zhu)要(yao)分(fen)布馬(ma)蓮(lian)河(he)流域(yu)的慶城以南川道地(di)區,其中(zhong)在(zai)寧縣境(jing)內比較多見。馳名(ming)中(zhong)外(wai)的為寧縣九龍(long)金(jin)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(主(zhu)要(yao)是寧縣晉(jin)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)),在(zai)當地(di)栽(zai)培已有兩千多年的生產歷史(shi),在(zai)《詩經》和(he)隋唐史(shi)志中(zhong)均(jun)有記載,1986年被評(ping)為甘肅(su)(su)省優質(zhi)農產品(pin),1996年獲甘肅(su)(su)省第(di)二屆(jie)名(ming)優產品(pin)鑒評(ping)會金(jin)獎。寧縣大棗(zao)(zao)(zao)即九龍(long)金(jin)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)主(zhu)要(yao)品(pin)系有吊(diao)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(即晉(jin)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)和(he)馬(ma)牙棗(zao)(zao)(zao),統稱九龍(long)金(jin)棗(zao)(zao)(zao))、夏棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(又(you)名(ming)圓(yuan)棗(zao)(zao)(zao))和(he)冬棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(又(you)名(ming)相棗(zao)(zao)(zao)或木棗(zao)(zao)(zao))三種。晉(jin)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)栽(zai)培面積大,產量(liang)高,品(pin)質(zhi)好,是棗(zao)(zao)(zao)產品(pin)中(zhong)的當家(jia)栽(zai)培品(pin)種。
九(jiu)龍(long)金棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao)皮薄肉厚,脆(cui)甜(tian)可(ke)口(kou),營養豐(feng)富,平均單果重25克(ke)。最大的可(ke)達40克(ke),實為(wei)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao)中之(zhi)(zhi)王。寧縣生(sheng)產(chan)的“金絲蜜(mi)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao)”色(se)澤黃(huang)亮(liang),肉質(zhi)肥(fei)厚,含糖量高(gao),曾(ceng)多(duo)次被(bei)評為(wei)“甘肅(su)省優質(zhi)產(chan)品(pin)”,產(chan)品(pin)遠銷(xiao)日本(ben)、香港(gang)、澳門和(he)全國16省、市,深受好評。寧縣的馬蓮河(he)川(chuan),九(jiu)龍(long)河(he)川(chuan)和(he)城北河(he)川(chuan)是(shi)九(jiu)龍(long)金棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao)的主要(yao)產(chan)地(di),這里生(sheng)產(chan)的九(jiu)龍(long)金棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao)分為(wei)吊棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao)和(he)圓棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao)兩(liang)種(zhong)。吊棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao)又稱晉(jin)(jin)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao),據史料記載,晉(jin)(jin)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao)已有兩(liang)千多(duo)年的歷史,早在西(xi)周時代,就作為(wei)宮(gong)品(pin)向朝延進貢過,因之(zhi)(zhi)得名晉(jin)(jin)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao),這種(zhong)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao)形如(ru)琥珀,棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao)果有梭狀圓隆,個大、皮薄、色(se)玫、肉厚、棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao)核小(xiao),鮮食(shi)脆(cui)酥醇甘,味甜(tian)如(ru)蜜(mi),適口(kou)性(xing)強,營養十分豐(feng)富,可(ke)稱天(tian)然綠(lv)色(se)食(shi)品(pin)。圓棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao)又稱夏棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao),也是(shi)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)(zao)中精品(pin)。
九龍金棗(zao)(zao)(zao)含(han)(han)有(you)脂肪(fang)、蛋白質、磷、鈣、鐵和豐富(fu)的維生素B,是(shi)滋補(bu)上品(pin)(pin),有(you)健脾(pi)止瀉,補(bu)血補(bu)鐵,補(bu)心安神的作用(yong)(yong),用(yong)(yong)吊(diao)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)和圓棗(zao)(zao)(zao)制成的金絲蜜(mi)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)、金棗(zao)(zao)(zao)罐頭、金棗(zao)(zao)(zao)酒等產品(pin)(pin)色亮(liang)形好,品(pin)(pin)質優良,堪稱佳品(pin)(pin),是(shi)天然的綠色保健精品(pin)(pin),尤其(qi)是(shi)蜜(mi)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)加工考察兼(jian)有(you)鮮(xian)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)干棗(zao)(zao)(zao)之長,色艷香濃味甜(tian)質脆,頗(po)受人們的喜愛(ai)。九龍金棗(zao)(zao)(zao)除含(han)(han)有(you)豐富(fu)的蛋白質、有(you)機(ji)酸(suan)、胡蘿卜素、礦(kuang)物質、糖(tang)份外,維生素含(han)(han)量是(shi)其(qi)它果(guo)品(pin)(pin)的幾十倍,被譽為“百果(guo)之王”,營養(yang)與藥用(yong)(yong)價值極(ji)高,對其(qi)進行(xing)深加工,生產蜜(mi)棗(zao)(zao)(zao)、棗(zao)(zao)(zao)粉(fen)、棗(zao)(zao)(zao)咖啡、棗(zao)(zao)(zao)茶、棗(zao)(zao)(zao)飲料、棗(zao)(zao)(zao)膠調補(bu)品(pin)(pin)、棗(zao)(zao)(zao)味餅(bing)干、棗(zao)(zao)(zao)味奶等,市場前景廣闊。