October tangerine

October tangerine

　　I. Characteristics:　　October tangerine, also known as Sugar Orange, is a high-quality variety widely cultivated and favored by fruit farmers in our city. The fruit is flat and round, averaging 58 grams in weight, with an edible rate of 71%, total sugar content of 12.05%, soluble solids of 12.9%, fruit acid at 0.41%, and about 15 seeds per fruit. It has a sweet taste that melts in the mouth, with peel that is extremely easy to remove and a bright red color. It begins to ripen in early November and is harvested from late November to early December. It is highly productive, yielding consistently and abundantly. The trees are tall with dense branches, and the fruiting rate within the canopy is high. During peak production, the average yield is 2,500–3,000 kilograms per mu, with individual tree yields of 100–150 kilograms, and up to 350–400 kilograms at maximum. It has strong resistance to diseases and environmental stress, with not overly strict requirements for cultivation conditions. It requires only moderate fertilizer levels, and can achieve high yields even in sandy loam soils of average fertility. 　　II. Cultivated Area:　　According to statistics from the Bureau of Statistics, by 2001, the city’s year-end actual planted area of Sugar Orange was 65,780 mu, with 31,581 mu harvested that year. 　　III. Market Sales Situation and Development Prospects:　　Our city’s citrus production has advantages for sustainable development. China’s entry into the WTO has had little negative impact on our citrus industry—in fact, it has brought greater development opportunities. Specifically, our city’s citrus production has four major advantages: 　　1. Traditional Advantage. Sihui’s citrus has over 400 years of cultivation history. Thanks to its superior quality, it has long enjoyed a great reputation, both domestically and in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, and is well known as the “Hometown of Citrus in China.” Especially through several citrus festivals hosted by our city, using citrus as a bridge to attract businesses from home and abroad, Sihui citrus has gained even more fame both in China and overseas. People naturally associate the name Sihui closely with citrus.

2. Variety Advantage. Our city boasts a rich diversity of citrus varieties, with over 20 types. Since the 1990s, we have vigorously developed locally renowned and high-quality varieties such as Sugar Orange and Gonggan. The city’s climate and soil are very suitable for citrus growth, and the resulting fruits are especially sweet, juicy, crisp, and flavorful—qualities unmatched elsewhere and highly favored by consumers. These varieties suit the tastes of consumers in China and Southeast Asia, offering broad sales prospects.

3. Technical Advantage. There is a widespread tradition of citrus cultivation. By combining generations of traditional cultivation techniques with advanced modern science and technology, fruit farmers generally possess a good understanding of citrus growing methods. The city’s Agriculture Bureau employs over ten technical personnel dedicated to citrus production. As early as the 1980s, the Yao Sha Citrus Disease-Free Nursery under the Bureau was the first to implement the “Citrus Plant Origin Quarantine Procedures,” producing disease-free seedlings. This project was listed as a key national agricultural science and technology promotion initiative, playing a significant role in the steady development of our city’s citrus industry.

4. Market Advantage. Particularly for premium varieties such as Sugar Orange and Gonggan, sales have remained consistently strong, winning the favor of merchants and consumers alike. Prices are favorable and volumes are high. In recent years, Sugar Orange has maintained a price of over 7 yuan per kilogram. During each citrus harvest season, large numbers of merchants from all over flock to Sihui daily to purchase citrus. Sihui has become the largest distribution hub for citrus products not only for neighboring counties (cities) but also for the entire Zhaoqing City.

(Sihui)