Citrus industry thrives with dried peel processing
2024-09-13 21:09:20
Journalist: Jin Zhi, Zhou Chongyu
Translator and Editor: Tan Maolin
Workers were busy processing dried citrus peels on September 10, at the Hubei Huiganyuan Agricultural Technology Development Company.
The peels, sourced from local citrus trees, underwent high-temperature sterilization before being loaded onto a semi-trailer bound for Fujian Province.
Gaobazhou Town, home to 50,000 mu (3,333 hectares) of orchards and an annual yield of 200,000 tons in citrus fruits, has embraced the dried peel processing business, turning citrus peels into a hot new commodity. This development has strengthened the local citrus industry chain, extending it from fresh fruit and juice production to dried citrus peels.
"Previously, people came here for citrus. But now, they come not only for citrus but also for dried citrus peel," said Jin Xiao, general manager of Hubei Huiganyuan Agricultural Technology Development Co., Ltd.
Jin moved her processing plant from Guangdong to Gaobazhou last year. "Yichang is known as the hometown of citrus, and the quality of our dried citrus peel is recognized nationwide. This is the main reason I chose to set up a factory here," Jin explained. She noted that 10 kg of citrus fruits can produce 1 kg of peel, and this year, the purchase price for citrus peels is about 10 yuan (US$1.4) per kilogram.
Since January, her factory has processed over 3,000 tons of dried peels, which are shipped across China and internationally to countries like the the U.S., Canada, and Singapore. With an expected production of over 5,000 tons this year, Jin predicts that citrus peel purchases in Yichang will account for 80% of the company's total revenue.
In October 2023, Jin introduced a variety of citrus known as “Chachi” from Xinhui, Guangdong for trial planting in Gaobazhou Town. She was confident in the farmers' planting skills but worried whether the tea branch citrus would thrive in the local environment. Fortunately, the new variety has made it through the winter season, taken hold, and is flourishing.
In the future, the company will launch more products derived from citrus peel, such as dried peel Pu’er tea, dried peel white tea, dried peel Dendrobium, and dried peel American ginseng.
As Yidu's leading agricultural industry, citrus is cultivated across 120 villages, supporting 80,000 households. By 2024, the citrus planting area in Yidu is projected to reach 300,000 mu, with an expected industry output exceeding 10 billion yuan.
Citrus peels, once undervalued, are now a key product in the area, bringing additional income to local farmers.
"Previously, dried citrus peels were not valued, but now factories are purchasing them in large quantities. I can earn income by cutting citrus peels at the factory, providing a stable additional income," said Liu Fuqin, a farmer from Liangjianao Village.
Translator and Editor: Tan Maolin
Workers were busy processing dried citrus peels on September 10, at the Hubei Huiganyuan Agricultural Technology Development Company.
The peels, sourced from local citrus trees, underwent high-temperature sterilization before being loaded onto a semi-trailer bound for Fujian Province.
Gaobazhou Town, home to 50,000 mu (3,333 hectares) of orchards and an annual yield of 200,000 tons in citrus fruits, has embraced the dried peel processing business, turning citrus peels into a hot new commodity. This development has strengthened the local citrus industry chain, extending it from fresh fruit and juice production to dried citrus peels.
"Previously, people came here for citrus. But now, they come not only for citrus but also for dried citrus peel," said Jin Xiao, general manager of Hubei Huiganyuan Agricultural Technology Development Co., Ltd.
Jin moved her processing plant from Guangdong to Gaobazhou last year. "Yichang is known as the hometown of citrus, and the quality of our dried citrus peel is recognized nationwide. This is the main reason I chose to set up a factory here," Jin explained. She noted that 10 kg of citrus fruits can produce 1 kg of peel, and this year, the purchase price for citrus peels is about 10 yuan (US$1.4) per kilogram.
Since January, her factory has processed over 3,000 tons of dried peels, which are shipped across China and internationally to countries like the the U.S., Canada, and Singapore. With an expected production of over 5,000 tons this year, Jin predicts that citrus peel purchases in Yichang will account for 80% of the company's total revenue.
In October 2023, Jin introduced a variety of citrus known as “Chachi” from Xinhui, Guangdong for trial planting in Gaobazhou Town. She was confident in the farmers' planting skills but worried whether the tea branch citrus would thrive in the local environment. Fortunately, the new variety has made it through the winter season, taken hold, and is flourishing.
In the future, the company will launch more products derived from citrus peel, such as dried peel Pu’er tea, dried peel white tea, dried peel Dendrobium, and dried peel American ginseng.
As Yidu's leading agricultural industry, citrus is cultivated across 120 villages, supporting 80,000 households. By 2024, the citrus planting area in Yidu is projected to reach 300,000 mu, with an expected industry output exceeding 10 billion yuan.
Citrus peels, once undervalued, are now a key product in the area, bringing additional income to local farmers.
"Previously, dried citrus peels were not valued, but now factories are purchasing them in large quantities. I can earn income by cutting citrus peels at the factory, providing a stable additional income," said Liu Fuqin, a farmer from Liangjianao Village.
