Changshou Summer Orange

Changshou Summer Orange

Changshou Summer Orange is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Changshou Summer Orange is an evergreen fruit and vegetable plant belonging to the Rutaceae family, subfamily Citrus. It is primarily produced in the towns and districts around the Changshou Lake—the largest artificial lake in Southwest China—and is also one of the country’s largest summer orange production bases. Through long-term breeding efforts by scientific experts, the Changshou Summer Orange has been developed into a premium citrus variety with unique local characteristics. Its fruit is bright orange-yellow, richly flavored, with a well-balanced sweet and sour taste, medium to high quality, and has been awarded the “Green Food” certification by China’s Ministry of Agriculture. The current planting area covers 100,000 mu, with a yield of 200,000 tons.

　　 Chongqing’s Changshou District currently has 4,666 hectares of summer oranges, producing over 45,000 tons of fruit, making it the largest summer orange production base in China. These are mainly distributed in five towns around the Changshou Lake area within the district: Yunji, Changshou Lake, Shuanglong, Longhe, and Shiyian. There are eight high-quality varieties of Changshou Summer Orange: Carter, Olinda, Changshou No.1, Changshou No.2, Mignane, Red Summer Orange, and Detar. Benefiting from the unique climate of the Changshou Lake area, the summer oranges produced here are tall in shape, deep orange in color, moderately sweet and sour, juicy and flavorful, tender and easy to separate from the peel, with a rich fruity aroma, high yield, and excellent quality. They have been awarded the “Green Food” certification by the Ministry of Agriculture, and in 2001, were recognized as a Famous Brand Product at the China International Agricultural Fair.

　　 Changshou Summer Oranges mature between February and May, during the off-season for most other fruits. They boast high yields (2.5 tons per mu), excellent quality, and individual fruit weight of 200–350g. They can be eaten fresh or processed, helping to fill the supply gap in the fresh citrus and processing raw material markets from February to June. The “flowers and fruits on the same tree” phenomenon of Changshou Summer Oranges also makes them ideal for fruit tourism.

　　 Chongqing’s Changshou District benefits from the natural advantages of bodies of water such as Changshou Lake, Dahong Lake, and the Three Gorges Reservoir area, making it one of the world’s most suitable regions for summer orange production. As a late-maturing sweet orange variety, the Changshou Summer Orange is a key development cultivar within China’s competitive citrus industry and holds great potential for growth.