榨菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)一詞(ci)最早出現于清朝光緒二(er)十五(wu)年(nian)(公(gong)元1899),由涪陵(ling)商人邱壽安命(ming)(ming)名(ming),意即“經鹽腌榨制過的(de)(de)(de)咸菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)”;并于當年(nian)首(shou)次(ci)將自己命(ming)(ming)名(ming)的(de)(de)(de)這(zhe)種咸菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)產(chan)品投放宜(yi)昌市場(chang)獲得成(cheng)(cheng)功。這(zhe)是(shi)“榨菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)”之名(ming)和“榨菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)業(ye)”的(de)(de)(de)緣起(qi)。據清道光二(er)十五(wu)年(nian)(1845年(nian))《涪州志 物產(chan)》中(zhong)關于“包(bao)包(bao)菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)”的(de)(de)(de)記載,以及(ji)有關的(de)(de)(de)民間傳說推(tui)測,今涪陵(ling)區境內最晚在公(gong)元18世(shi)紀已出現青(qing)菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)頭(tou)(即包(bao)包(bao)菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai))的(de)(de)(de)廣泛種植和加工(gong)成(cheng)(cheng)咸菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)供家庭食用。因青(qing)菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)頭(tou)腌菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)風(feng)味獨特,是(shi)眾多(duo)咸菜(cai)(cai)(cai)(cai)制品中(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)珍品,具(ju)有巨大(da)的(de)(de)(de)歷史價(jia)值、文(wen)化價(jia)值、經濟(ji)價(jia)值。
民間原始手(shou)(shou)工(gong)制(zhi)作榨(zha)菜(cai)雖然其品(pin)質優(you)于現(xian)代機(ji)械化(hua)加工(gong)榨(zha)菜(cai),由(you)于其全(quan)憑人(ren)工(gong)肩挑背磨、人(ren)工(gong)踩(cai)壓和(he)手(shou)(shou)工(gong)操作,工(gong)藝繁雜(za)、勞動強度大(da)。更重(zhong)要(yao)的是制(zhi)作原始手(shou)(shou)工(gong)榨(zha)菜(cai)的老(lao)藝人(ren)已所剩無幾,隨著市(shi)場經(jing)濟的發(fa)展,農村勞動力(li)(li)轉移,三峽庫區河灘地淹沒,現(xian)代化(hua)生產加工(gong)水平(ping)的不斷(duan)提(ti)高,這一寶(bao)貴的傳統手(shou)(shou)工(gong)制(zhi)作技藝面臨失(shi)傳,為了繼承(cheng)和(he)發(fa)揚涪陵區、重(zhong)慶市(shi)乃(nai)至我國馳(chi)名中(zhong)外(wai)的非物質文化(hua)遺產,必須(xu)采取(qu)有力(li)(li)措施(shi)加以保護。