Hams are displayed at the World Ham Exhibition Hall in Jinhua. [Photo/Tide News]

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released its first national list of key traditional food-producing regions on June 4 — with Zhejiang Province topping the list in number of entries.

Shaoxing's yellow rice wine, Jinhua ham, and West Lake Longjing tea were among 39 specialty food products selected nationwide. The province had the highest number of entries among all regions.

The new initiative aims to foster regional economic growth by building a modern development framework for local specialty food industries. According to the ministry, the selected items span major categories — including dairy, beverages, brewing, and refined tea production.

Jinhua ham — recognized as one of the world's three most famous hams — has helped establish a full industrial chain in the region, from pig farming to processing and sales. The city hosts 10 major enterprises, producing more than 40 million hams annually.

The food industry in China is valued at approximately 9.8 trillion yuan ($1.34 trillion) — making it the largest in the world, according to China Media Group. Specialty food regions alone account for over 2.5 trillion yuan in market value.

The list includes 39 entries across 28 provinces — featuring items such as small-grain coffee from Yunnan and Harbin red sausage from Heilongjiang. The ministry said it will continue to support local governments in developing distinctive food industry strengths and promoting high-quality growth.