Fengjie Navel Oranges

Fengjie Navel Oranges

Fengjie navel oranges are a protected geographical indication product.

Fengjie navel oranges are a certified geographical indication trademark.

　　Fengjie navel oranges are the most widely planted and highest-yielding premium fruit in Chongqing.

　　Fengjie navel oranges are typically orange or orange-red in color. They are seedless, juicy, with bright and glossy skin.

　　The flesh is crisp, tender, and easy to separate, offering a sweet and delicious taste. Rich in nutrients, they help supplement the body’s needs, promote metabolism, support health and intelligence. With a sweet and mild flavor, they have multiple benefits such as strengthening the spleen and stomach, clearing the lungs and resolving phlegm, nourishing the skin and beauty, regulating qi, fighting cancer, and relieving alcohol intoxication. Regular consumption can provide essential nutrients, improve health, and prolong life.

　　Fruit Characteristics

　　“Fengjie Navel Orange” (Fengyuan 72-1) is an elite strain selected from the highest-quality “Washington Navel Orange” variety within the navel orange category.

　　According to testing by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Citrus Seedling Quality Monitoring and Inspection Center, Fengjie navel oranges have a fruit shape index of 0.98, individual fruit weight of 185–250 grams, juice content of 50%, edible portion of 72%, and flesh that is crisp, tender, and easy to separate. Each 100 ml of juice contains 9.74 grams of sugar, 0.72 grams of citric acid, and 47.9 mg of vitamin C. Soluble solids content is 11.6%, with a sugar-acid ratio of 13.5. They ripen in late November and January.

　　Development History

　　First, the shift from a single variety (Fengyuan 72-1 navel orange) to a combination of early, mid, and late-season varieties (95-1 navel orange, Powell, Bonfire, and Chislett — three late-season navel oranges), providing 7–8 months of fresh navel orange availability in the market.

　　Second, the transition from high-quality, high-yield production to pollution-free standardized production. The entire process has passed pollution-free agricultural product origin certification and pollution-free navel orange product certification, earning honors such as “China Famous Fruit” and “China High-Quality Navel Orange Base.”

　　Third, the leap from branded product to branded merchandise. “Fengjie Navel Orange” was registered as a certification trademark and approved by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce in February 2006, becoming a mark certifying the specific quality of Fengjie navel orange variety products.

　　Fourth, the shift from large-scale production to industrialized operation. The Macau-based Henghe Group entered Fengjie, registered a company, built one citrus commercial processing and packaging production line, a 2,000-ton cold storage facility, and a 100-mu late-season navel orange demonstration garden. Through farmer cooperatives such as the Huayuan Navel Orange Association and farmer-run navel orange planting companies in Fengjie County, it adopted an industrialized management model of “company + association (planting company) + farmers.”

　　Fifth, the advancement in technology for Fengjie navel oranges. Standardized production techniques for tree-hanging preservation of 91 and 95-1 navel oranges were developed.

　　Industry Overview

　　As a specialty fruit of Chongqing, the Fengjie navel orange base was initially established in 1979 when the Ministry of Foreign Trade approved the creation of a 20,000-mu export navel orange base. It then went through three development phases: 1985–1990, 1991–1996, and 1997–2002. In Fengjie County, over 8.5 million navel orange trees have been planted on both sides of the “one river and five streams” within areas below 600 meters in altitude, covering 150,000 mu. Production reached 124,000 tons with a value of 250 million yuan, accounting for 20% of the county’s agricultural output, making it the dominant industry described as “one tree feeding 300,000 people.” The main production area lies along the 40-km stretch of the Yangtze River and its tributaries — Caotang River, Meixi River, Zhuyi River, Moxi River, and Shisun River — particularly on the first and second terraces, which account for over 80% of total output.

　　Since 2005, leveraging its advantage of being free from factory pollution, the Fengjie navel orange base has adopted pollution-free citrus production standards set by the Ministry of Agriculture. It promotes eight pollution-free navel orange standardized production techniques: “tree windowing, orchard grassing, organic fertilizer, biological pesticides, thinning small fruits, fruit bagging, insecticidal lamps, and tree-hanging storage.” Strict control is applied to chemical fertilizer use, and highly toxic or high-residue pesticides are prohibited. Standardized commercial washing, sorting, and packaging processes ensure consumers enjoy safe navel oranges.

　　The Fengjie navel orange industry accounts for 20% of the county’s total agricultural income and is the primary source of economic income for farmers in low mountain valley areas below 600 meters in altitude. In the ten major navel orange-producing towns in Fengjie, navel orange income makes up 67% of total agricultural revenue. A large number of fruit farmers have escaped poverty and achieved prosperity through navel orange cultivation. Along the “one river and five streams,” buildings have sprung up, with every household owning a TV and telephone. Farmers fondly refer to navel oranges as their “citrus sons.” The industry has also given rise to many large-scale growers and marketers. The county has 50 growers producing over 50 tons each, with incomes around 100,000 yuan; 300 growers producing over 20 tons, earning about 40,000 yuan; 3,000 growers producing over 10 tons, with incomes around 20,000 yuan; and the average income of the county’s 50,000 fruit farming households is 4,000 yuan. The industry has also driven growth in marketing, transportation, packaging, catering, and related sectors.

　　Product Label

　　The “Fengjie Navel Orange. FJQCH and Design” certification trademark was applied for registration in July 2003 by the Fengjie Huayuan Navel Orange Association on behalf of its member fruit farmers. They commissioned Chongqing Southwest Trademark Affairs Co., Ltd. to submit the application to the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. The office accepted the application on June 24, 2004, completed the review in November, and upon approval, the label is now used to certify the specific quality of Fengjie navel orange variety products.

　　Product Identification

　　To distinguish genuine Fengjie navel oranges, look for their specific qualities: the fruit is short oval or round, with orange to deep orange skin, a transverse diameter of 70–90 mm, individual fruit weight of 180–250 grams, mostly closed navels or open navels with diameters less than 1.5 cm that curve inward in a ring pattern. The skin is moderately thick, crisp, and easy to peel. The flesh is delicate, tender, and easy to separate, seedless with few membrane strands, pleasantly sweet and sour, juicy and refreshing, with a lingering fragrant aftertaste. Fresh fruits start appearing in late November.

　　Product Evaluation

　　Since their introduction, “Fengjie Navel Oranges” have received nine major accolades.

　　Orange to deep orange in color, with a transverse diameter of 70-90 mm and an individual fruit weight of 180-250 grams. Most fruits have a closed navel, and if open, the navel diameter is less than 1.5 cm and turns inward with a wheel-like pattern. The peel is moderately thick, crisp, and easy to peel. The flesh is fine, tender, and seedless with few membranes, offering a well-balanced sweet and sour taste, juicy and refreshing, with a lingering fragrant aftertaste. Fresh fruits start hitting the market from late November onwards.

　　Product Reviews

　　Since the launch of "Fengjie Navel Oranges," they have received 9 prestigious awards.

　　In 1985 and 1989, it was awarded the Quality Fruit Certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Golden Bull Trophy.

　　In 1995, along with its companion varieties (Fengjie Pengna, Fengjie Lina, and Fengjie Newhall), it won the gold medal at the Second China International Agricultural Expo.

　　In 1999, the "91 Navel Orange" under the Caotang brand from the Fengjie County Horticultural Farm and the "Xinfengshi" navel orange from the County Yangtze River Upper and Middle Reaches Fruit Development Company were both recognized as "Famous Brand Products" by the China International Agricultural Expo.

　　From 2000 to 2001, the "Fenghuang Jiedu" brand of Fengjie navel oranges from Fuxing Fruit Industry Science and Technology Co., Ltd. were recognized as "Chongqing Famous Fruits," "Chongqing Famous Brand Products," and "Famous Brand Products" at the China International Agricultural Expo. The "Fengjie Fresh" brand of Fengjie navel oranges, launched by Chongqing Jinshan Agricultural Co., Ltd., made its first appearance at the Second Chongqing Famous Brand Agricultural Products Exhibition and Sales Fair and received a Quality Fruit Certificate issued by the Citrus Seedling Quality Supervision, Inspection and Testing Center of the Ministry of Agriculture.

　　In 2006, it was awarded the title of "China Famous Fruit."

　　Nutritional Value

　　Navel oranges are highly nutritious, containing various essential nutrients required by the human body. According to tests, every 100ML of fresh  Fengjie navel orange

　　juice contains: 207 joules of calories, 0.9g of protein, 0.2g of fat, 203.9mg of amino acids, 0.127mg of vitamin A, 0.08mg of vitamin B1, 0.03mg of vitamin B2, 60mg of vitamin C, and is rich in elements such as calcium, iron, and phosphorus. Regular consumption can help lower cholesterol, break down fat, reduce the accumulation of non-ferrous metals and radioactive elements in the body, clear internal heat, beautify the skin, prevent cancer, and promote longevity.

　　Selection Methods

　　1. Size: Bigger isn’t always better for Fengjie navel oranges. The ideal size is a diameter of 75–90mm for a Fengjie navel orange king.

　　Oranges over 90mm in diameter tend to have thicker skin.

　　2. Shape: Depending on the variety, navel oranges can be round or oval, but they should all be roughly symmetrical in shape and fairly well-formed. Otherwise, one half may not taste good or may have thicker skin.

　　3. Color: Fengjie navel oranges are generally orange or orange-red in color. High-quality oranges require uniform coloring without significant light or dark variations.

　　4. Skin: The surface of the navel orange should be smooth, without any sunken oil glands.

　　5. Navel: The navel at the top of the orange should be closed, and the smaller it is, the better. Large or open navels usually indicate poor taste.

　　6. Taste: Fengjie navel oranges are crisp, tender, easy to eat, and deliciously sweet.

　　7. Trademark: Please look for the Fengjie navel orange origin certification trademark.

　　The protected area for the Fengjie navel orange geographical indication product includes the following 20 administrative regions currently under the jurisdiction of Fengjie County, Chongqing: Caotang Town, Baidi Town, Fenhe Town, Kangle Town, Dashu Town, Shigang Township, Gongping Town, Baidi City Scenic Area Management Committee, Yong’an Town, Zhuyi Town, Kangping Township, Anping Township, Jiagao Town, Yangshi Town, Yongle Town, Xinmin Town, Wuma Township, Hefeng Township, Xinglong Town, and Chang’an Township.

　　Business Information:

　　Fengjie Caotang Navel Orange Orchard

　　Orchard Address: Team 8, Ouying Village, Caotang Town, Fengjie County

　　Farmer’s WeChat/Phone: 13696906693

　　Fengjie Navel Orange Farmers QQ Group: 105580966