Fengdu Oranges, a Renowned Variety, Develop into a Rapidly Growing Industry in Chongqing, Western China
The harvest season has arrived in Longkong Town, Fengdu County, a renowned center for its delicious and juicy oranges in Chongqing, western China.
At the Joint Prosperity Orange Orchard in Nanzhu Village, farmers are loading crates of freshly picked oranges onto trucks, which are then transported to the nearby Fengdu Orange Integrated Production Base. At the fruit cleaning and sorting center, the oranges undergo a series of processes, including cleaning, polishing, drying, and grading, before being sent to the packaging area, packaged, and distributed throughout the country.
To ensure smooth processing and consistent fruit quality during the harvest season, Bai Xiaohua, director of the local professional agricultural development cooperative, shuttles between the orchards and the production base, coordinating harvesting schedules and directly inspecting fruit quality.
Born and raised in an orange orchard, Bai understands the growth cycle of orange trees and recognizes the shortcomings of traditional cultivation methods. In 2018, he initiated the establishment of a cooperative, aiming to organize scattered local farmers and promote the standardized and large-scale development of the orange industry through unified standards and centralized management.
To improve the professional skills of farmers and ensure consistent management standards, Bai organizes monthly on-site training sessions, directly teaching farmers scientific orange cultivation techniques.
Bai’s commitment to continuous learning and the proactive application of advanced technologies has been instrumental in the transformation of the industry.
Before the cooperative was established, he actively participated in various agricultural training programs organized by the Fengdu County Agriculture and Rural Affairs Commission and conducted several study visits to other regions to learn from advanced experiences. In 2020, he obtained a drone operation certificate, pioneered the use of drones in his orchards, and quickly promoted its application in the cooperative’s standardized operations.
His efforts reflect the continuous improvement and upgrading of the Fengdu orange industry.
Longkong Town now has 25,000 mu of orange orchards, with an annual production of more than 30,000 tons and an annual output value of 110 million yuan. The oranges obtained the National Geographical Indication Brand certification in 2011.
In 2019, Nanzhu Village was designated as a national characteristic product pilot village by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and obtained the National Geographical Indication certification for agricultural products. Fengdu oranges have been exported to the Middle East and other regions several times, emerging as a renowned local orange brand.
Throughout Fengdu County, the planting area of Fengdu oranges reaches 52,500 mu, with an annual production of 70,000 tons and a total annual income of 150 million yuan.
A single orange has created an income-increasing chain for local farmers and expanded the modern agricultural industrial chain from the field to the market. Through organization, digitalization, and brand building, the Fengdu orange industry has evolved from a local specialty into a path to prosperity and a strong industrial network for the region.