Yichang tangerine season in full swing

By Yan Wanqin, Yichang International Communication Studio

The extra-early maturing Yichang tangerines are now in season, and tangerine enterprises are bustling with preparations to meet both domestic and international market demands.

On September 13, at the export processing workshop Yichang Yanghong Farmer Trading, workers were busy washing, drying, and sorting extra-early maturing Yichang tangerines for export. 



This 80-ton shipment of Yichang tangerines, headed to Russia and Canada, marks the year's inaugural export. According to Zhang Yanghong, the company's chairman, the tangerines are stored in refrigerated containers to ensure their freshness during the approximately 30-day journey to Canada.

This year, the company has begun exploring markets in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The export volume is expected to reach 70,000 tonnes, 10,000 tonnes more than 2022, and the output value will increase by 80 million yuan (over US$10.9 million).

"We are now exporting to more countries, including Qatar, Dubai, the Philippines, Indonesia and Kazakhstan," said Zhang.

The key to Yichang tangerines' success in international markets lies in optimizing their variety selection and enhancing overall quality.

"We use biological pest control technologies and organic fertilizers to improve quality. Now our tangerines contain 13.5 grams to 14 grams of sugar each," said Zhang.



Yichang is a prominent region in China for the cultivation of oranges, mandarins, and clementines. This area boasts over 1 million mu (nearly 67,000 hectares) of tangerine cultivation, resulting in an annual production exceeding 2.4 million tonnes. Among these, Yichang specializes in a comprehensive array of tangerine varieties, with a dedicated cultivation area spanning 780,000 mu (52,000 hectares) for early-maturing varieties.

To boost tangerine sales, Yichang annually arranges special promotional events in border cities and crucial domestic markets. Beyond the domestic market, Yichang tangerines are exported to over 10 countries and regions, including Canada, Russia, Singapore, and Thailand.