Gutian Navel Oranges

Gutian Navel Oranges

　　Gutian navel oranges are large, thin-skinned, and sweet, enjoying a great reputation across Fujian Province. The county has a total planting area of 11,000 mu, mainly distributed in four towns (streets) around Cuiping Lake and along the Min River.

　　The "Newhall" navel orange is originally from the United States and was bred from a bud mutation of the Washington navel orange. In 1992, it was introduced to Gutian County by the Famous and High-Quality Fruit Farm of the County Science and Technology Commission. After more than ten years of trial planting, demonstration, and promotion in our county, it has been proven that the "Newhall" navel orange is fully adaptable to the local climate and geographical environment. The trees grow vigorously with short, dense branches and dark green leaves. The fruits are orange-red, smooth-skinned, and oval to elongated in shape, mostly with closed navels. The flesh is tender, crisp, juicy, fragrant, and sweet, with an average weight of 300–350 grams per fruit, and some reaching over 750 grams. They make excellent gifts and are highly favored by consumers in large and medium-sized cities. The "Newhall" navel orange has a relatively short investment-return cycle. Generally, the trees start bearing fruit in the third year after planting. Mature trees over four years old can yield an average of 2,500–3,000 kilograms per mu, with a lifespan of up to 40–50 years, making them highly economically valuable. In recent years, the "Newhall" navel orange has become one of the main fruit varieties helping rural households in Gutian County escape poverty and achieve prosperity, qualifying as a short-, flat-, and fast-track agricultural project. Zeng Tiankun, a former laid-off worker from the Gutian County bus station, achieved wealth through planting "Newhall" navel oranges, with this year’s production reaching 50,000 kilograms and output value of around 300,000 yuan. Zheng Zuoheng from Xilan Village, Shuikou Town, planted over 800 trees in 1999. By the third year, the trees entered their peak production period, and this year, the income per tree exceeded 200 yuan, with market prices for the oranges being over 8 yuan per kilogram. According to statistics from the agricultural department, over 500 households in the county have become prosperous by growing "Newhall" navel oranges, including more than 80 farmers in Baoxi Village, Songji Township alone, with over 10 households earning more than 100,000 yuan. (Gutian County)

　　Gutian County's "Tiankun Navel Oranges" are not only a well-known provincial trademark but also certified as green food and awarded the title of "Provincial Famous Brand Agricultural Product." Coupled with pollution-free cultivation techniques such as organic fertilization, and standardized production methods combining mechanized sorting with manual fine selection, they have established their own brand advantage, further enhancing the popularity and market added value of "Tiankun Navel Oranges."