Xiangxi Pomelo

Xiangxi Pomelo

Xiangxi Pomelo is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Primarily produced in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Huaihua, and other areas. It has a well-balanced sweet and sour taste, rich flavor, crisp and juicy flesh, yellow to orange-yellow skin with an attractive appearance, thick wax layer, and excellent storage properties. Its flavor improves after short-term storage. Rich in vitamins and minerals, it is beneficial to health when consumed fresh and can also be processed into juice, canned goods, etc., and has certain medicinal value. (Jishou)

　　Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture is located in the northwest of Hunan Province, bordering Hubei, Guizhou, and Chongqing. It serves as the “northwestern gateway” of Hunan. The region boasts beautiful scenery with overlapping peaks, lush forests, and crisscrossing rivers. It is renowned for its unique landscapes and simple folk customs, and is honored as one of “China’s Top Ten Charming Cities.” Historical records indicate that citrus cultivation in Xiangxi dates back at least 2,000 years. Xiangxi has a subtropical monsoon climate with distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, ample sunlight, no severe summer heat, and little harsh winter—making it highly suitable for citrus growth and one of China’s most natural citrus-growing regions. Additionally, the area has vast selenium-rich soil, making it one of China’s three major natural selenium belts, the only natural selenium-rich area in Hunan, and recognized by the China Fruit Association as the “Hometown of Xiangxi Pomelo.”

　　Xiangxi citrus has been a tribute to imperial courts throughout history and was widely exported after 1949, enjoying high renown. China is the world’s largest producer of pomelos, Hunan leads the nation in pomelo production, and Xiangxi leads the province, accounting for 13% of the national share. According to statistics from early 2007, the total pomelo cultivation area in the prefecture was over 630,000 mu, with a yield of more than 410,000 tons. The development of the citrus industry, especially pomelo cultivation, has also driven the prosperity of related sectors. Citrus production in Xiangxi, particularly pomelo farming, has become one of the three main pillars of agriculture. By 2008, the pomelo-centered citrus cultivation area in Xiangxi had reached 1.07 million mu, including 820,000 mu of pomelos, with an annual output of 650,000 tons and an annual output value of approximately 780 million yuan. The prefecture is home to several provincial and prefectural-level agricultural industrialization leading enterprises specializing in pomelo marketing and processing, such as Luxi County Pomelo Co., Ltd., Futaite Company, Jinyuan Fruit Co., Ltd., Hongshan Pomelo Company, Baojing County XiYang Group, and Yongshun County Xiangxi Hong Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd.

　　Pomelos produced in Xiangxi have long been hailed as the “King of Citrus.” The fruit is of moderate size, flat-round in shape, with orange-yellow skin that is easy to peel. It features bright color, crisp and tender flesh that is juicy and flavorful, with a rich taste and high soluble solids content. It is also resistant to storage and transport—when stored until March–April of the following year, it remains vibrant and flavorful. Rich in various trace elements essential to human health, tests by the Hunan Provincial Science Commission found that the edible portion of the fruit reaches 72–79%, soluble solids content 13–14%, total sugar 10.65%, total acid 0.84%, sugar-acid ratio 12.7:1, and vitamin C content 23.4–25.68 mg/100ml, indicating excellent quality. Testing by the Changsha Institute of Modern Agriculture under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agricultural Product Safety Supervision and Inspection Center revealed a selenium content of 0.001–0.043 mg/kg, reaching a high selenium-rich level.

　　In the 1980s, three superior pomelo strains—“Jipin Pomelo,” “Xinnü Pomelo,” and “8304”—were selected by agricultural science and technology personnel in Xiangxi Prefecture. In 1990, they were awarded Hunan Famous Brand Agricultural Products; in 2003, they were recognized as a best-selling brand in the Chinese consumer market, winning the 2004 Shanghai China Green Food Expo Best-Selling Product Award, the Hunan Consumer Trusted Brand, and the China Famous and Excellent Brand. In 1999, they obtained “Green Food” certification from the China Green Food Development Center. The “Xiangxi Pomelo” brand has now been registered as a national geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture is located between 109°10′–110°23′ east longitude and 27°44′–29°38′ north latitude, within the northern subtropical monsoon humid climate zone. It has a short severe cold period, long frost-free period, warm winters and cool summers, distinct seasons, abundant heat, and plentiful rainfall. Influenced by factors such as terrain, landforms, and mountain water bodies, the region exhibits significant microclimatic advantages, especially in the main pomelo-producing areas along water bodies and in mountain basins below 350 meters elevation in counties and cities such as Luxi, Jishou, Fenghuang, Baojing, Yongshun, Longshan, Guzhang, and Huayuan. These areas benefit from microclimates formed by factors such as water body effects, featuring no severe winters or summers, large diurnal temperature variations, a total production area of 42,000 hectares, and an annual output of 420,000 tons.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic-Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Landform Conditions: The main pomelo-producing areas in Xiangxi are mostly located along water bodies or in mountain basins. These regions have deep soil layers, with soil organic matter content exceeding 2%, high natural fertility, and various trace elements beneficial to plant growth and product quality improvement—especially selenium, germanium, zinc, calcium, and iron, which are particularly advantageous to humans. Harmful heavy metal content is low, meeting the origin quality standards for pollution-free agricultural products. With few industrial enterprises in the area, water and air quality are excellent, making it an ideal region for developing pollution-free, green, and organic pomelos.

　　(2) Hydrological Conditions: Most areas within Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture have abundant surface and groundwater resources with good water quality, free from artificial and industrial pollution, making them ideal for industrial, agricultural production, and domestic use. Surface water and groundwater interconvert, forming a pattern of integrated utilization. The region receives annual precipitation of 21.37 billion cubic meters; the average annual runoff in the area is 13.28 billion cubic meters. There are 444 rivers with main streams longer than 5 kilometers and drainage areas over 10 square kilometers, including major rivers such as the Yuan River, You River, Wu River, and Mengdong River. The prefecture has over 1,000 streams of varying sizes, flowing from northwest to southeast into the Li, You, Yuan, and Wu rivers. Major river systems in Xiangxi include the Yuan River main stream passing through the south, the You River main stream and Wu River main stream crossing from west to east, and the upper-middle reaches of the Huaxiang River in Huayuan flowing from south to north into Chadian.

　　cubic meters, with an average annual runoff of 13.28 billion cubic meters in the region; there are a total of 444 rivers with main streams longer than 5 kilometers and drainage areas exceeding 10 square kilometers, including major rivers such as the Yuan River, You River, Wu River, and Mengdong River. The prefecture has over 1,000 streams of varying sizes, which flow from northwest to southeast into the four major water systems: the Li, You, Yuan, and Wu Rivers. The main river systems within Xiangxi Prefecture include the Yuan River main stream passing through the southern part, the You River main stream and the Wu River main stream traversing from west to east, while the upper and middle reaches of the Xixiang River in Huayuan flow from south to north through Chadian into the area.

　　(3) Climatic Conditions: Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture has a northern subtropical monsoon humid climate, with a short severe cold period, long frost-free period, warm winters and cool summers, distinct seasons, abundant heat, and plentiful rainfall. The average annual temperature in the main pomelo-producing areas is around 17°C, never dropping below -4°C, with very few days exceeding 35°C—temperature conditions that are highly suitable for the growth, development, overwintering, and oversummering of pomelos. Additionally, these areas receive abundant diffuse light with high light energy utilization, featuring 1,300–1,400 annual sunshine hours and solar radiation of 70,221.1–76,134.7 kW/m². Autumn and winter radiation energy is higher, with September–October radiation being 26–35% greater than March–April, greatly benefiting the maturation and sugar conversion of Xiangxi pomelos. The prefecture receives 1,300–1,500 mm of annual rainfall, concentrated in spring and early summer, aligning well with crop growth needs and ensuring effective precipitation.

　　(4) Humanistic-Historical Conditions: Pomelo cultivation in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture has a long history, dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period. Qu Yuan, a scholar-official of the Chu State, praised “the splendid tree born in the southern land” in his “Ode to the Orange.” Xiangxi pomelos are of superior quality, grown in unpolluted mountain soils rich in rare earth elements, characterized by beautiful shape, good taste, strong fragrance, and tender, refreshing flesh. Xiangxi pomelos are one of the main pillar industries of agricultural and rural economy in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province. Since the 1970s, the prefecture has leveraged its natural resource advantages to vigorously develop the Xiangxi pomelo industry across the region. Especially with support from higher authorities such as the Ministry of Agriculture, the pomelo industry—prioritized for development—has grown rapidly.

　　By 2007, the pomelo cultivation area in the prefecture reached 630,000 mu, approaching one-fourth of the national total, with a total output of 420,000 tons. Products sold well in both domestic and international markets, generating nearly 300 million yuan in annual cumulative sales revenue and 1.37 million USD in annual cumulative export earnings.

　　As a result, Xiangxi Prefecture was named the “Hometown of Xiangxi Pomelo” by the Fruit Professional Committee of the China Agricultural Technology Extension Association. The pomelo industry has made outstanding contributions to fundamental changes in the agricultural and rural landscape and farmers’ living standards in Xiangxi, playing an increasingly significant role in agricultural development, farmers’ income growth, and fiscal tax revenue.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Origin Selection: Cultivation areas in the Wushui and Tuojiang River basins, Fengtan Reservoir area and Mengdong River basin,

　　Liye Basin and Huayuan River basin. The environmental quality of the production areas must comply with the requirements of the “Pollution-Free Food Citrus Production Environment Conditions” NY5013-2006.

　　(2) Variety Selection: Focus on three superior varieties well-suited to Xiangxi Prefecture: “8306,” “8304,” and “260.”

　　(3) Production Process Management: The production process of Xiangxi pomelos must follow the “Pollution-Free Food Citrus Production Technical Regulations” NY/T5015-2002.

　　(4) Product Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling: Xiangxi pomelos are harvested starting mid-November each year. During harvesting, the “two-cut method” must be used. After picking, the fruit can be graded and immediately marketed or stored and preserved for delayed sales.

　　(5) Production Record Requirements: The entire production process of Xiangxi pomelos must establish field production records, comprehensively documenting and preserving information for future reference.

　　Typical Quality Characteristics and Product Quality Safety Standards

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: Orange-red or orange-yellow skin, large flat-round fruit, thick wax layer, thin and easy-to-peel skin, and bright luster. Includes external indicators such as shape, size, and color.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: Crisp and tender flesh, tender and refreshing, well-balanced sweet and sour taste, strong fragrance, and good storability. According to tests by the Hunan Provincial Science Commission, the edible portion of the fruit reaches 72–79%, soluble solids content 13–14%, total sugar 11.6–11.72%, total acid 0.52–0.77%, vitamin C 23.4–25.68 mg/100ml, indicating excellent quality.

　　(3) Safety Requirements: Xiangxi pomelos comply with the “Pollution-Free Food Citrus Fruits” NY5014-2005 standard.

　　Relevant regulations on packaging and labeling

　　Xiangxi ponkan oranges are graded by fruit diameter and appearance. Packaging materials, such as cardboard boxes or bamboo baskets, are used according to customer requirements. Users of the mark shall uniformly label their sales packaging with the "Xiangxi Ponkan" geographical indication for agricultural products. Storage and transportation shall comply with the "Green Food Storage and Transportation Guidelines" (NY/T1056-2006).