榨菜(cai)(cai)一(yi)詞最(zui)早出現于清(qing)朝光緒二十(shi)五年(nian)(公(gong)元1899),由涪陵(ling)商人邱壽安命名(ming),意即“經(jing)鹽腌榨制過的(de)咸(xian)菜(cai)(cai)”;并于當年(nian)首次(ci)將(jiang)自(zi)己命名(ming)的(de)這(zhe)種(zhong)(zhong)咸(xian)菜(cai)(cai)產品投放宜昌(chang)市(shi)場獲得成(cheng)功。這(zhe)是“榨菜(cai)(cai)”之名(ming)和“榨菜(cai)(cai)業(ye)”的(de)緣起。據清(qing)道光二十(shi)五年(nian)(1845年(nian))《涪州志 物產》中(zhong)關于“包包菜(cai)(cai)”的(de)記(ji)載,以及有關的(de)民間(jian)傳說推測,今涪陵(ling)區境(jing)內最(zui)晚在公(gong)元18世紀已出現青菜(cai)(cai)頭(tou)(tou)(即包包菜(cai)(cai))的(de)廣泛種(zhong)(zhong)植(zhi)和加(jia)工成(cheng)咸(xian)菜(cai)(cai)供家(jia)庭食用。因青菜(cai)(cai)頭(tou)(tou)腌菜(cai)(cai)風味獨特(te),是眾多咸(xian)菜(cai)(cai)制品中(zhong)的(de)珍品,具有巨大的(de)歷史價值、文化價值、經(jing)濟價值。
民間原始(shi)(shi)手工(gong)(gong)(gong)制(zhi)作榨(zha)菜雖然其品(pin)質(zhi)(zhi)優于(yu)現(xian)代機械化加工(gong)(gong)(gong)榨(zha)菜,由于(yu)其全憑人工(gong)(gong)(gong)肩挑背磨、人工(gong)(gong)(gong)踩壓和手工(gong)(gong)(gong)操作,工(gong)(gong)(gong)藝(yi)繁雜、勞動強度大。更重要的是(shi)制(zhi)作原始(shi)(shi)手工(gong)(gong)(gong)榨(zha)菜的老藝(yi)人已(yi)所(suo)剩無(wu)幾(ji),隨著市場經濟的發(fa)展,農村勞動力轉移,三(san)峽庫(ku)區河灘地淹沒,現(xian)代化生產加工(gong)(gong)(gong)水平的不(bu)斷提高,這一寶(bao)貴的傳統(tong)手工(gong)(gong)(gong)制(zhi)作技藝(yi)面臨失傳,為(wei)了繼承和發(fa)揚涪陵區、重慶市乃至(zhi)我國馳名中外的非(fei)物(wu)質(zhi)(zhi)文化遺(yi)產,必須采(cai)取有力措(cuo)施加以保護。