Tarocco Blood Orange

Tarocco Blood Orange

　　Tarocco Blood Orange

　　Tarocco Blood Orange The Tarocco Blood Orange is large in size, with individual fruits weighing 200–250 grams, making it the largest variety among blood oranges. Its rind is relatively smooth and thin. The flesh is juicy, richly flavored, tender, and seedless or nearly so. It has a soluble solids content of up to 12.8% and is of premium quality. The Tarocco Blood Orange is an outstanding variety within the blood orange category.

　　　　Zizhong County is located in Neijiang City, Sichuan Province, at the heart of the Sichuan Basin, along the middle reaches of the Tuojiang River and the central section of the Chengdu-Chongqing railway, highway, and expressway network. Covering an area of 1,734 square kilometers with a population of 1.34 million, the county administers 33 towns (townships) and one provincial-level economic development zone. Its county seat lies 142 kilometers west of Chengdu and 200 kilometers east of Chongqing. Known as the “Land of Fish and Rice” and the “Sugar Cane Homeland,” Zizhong is also a major fruit-producing county. It was designated as one of China’s first commercial citrus production bases in 1986. Through recent development, the county now has 250,000 mu of economic forest, with fruit production exceeding 110,000 tons in 2003—ranking second in Sichuan Province. On March 30, 2004, Zizhong County was officially named the “Home of China’s Tarocco Blood Orange” by the China Economic Forest Association.

　　　　The Tarocco Blood Orange originated in Italy, ripening from January to February of the following year. The fruit is large with a smooth, crimson-red rind. Its flesh is deep purple-red, crisp, juicy, sweet and tangy, aromatic, seedless, and of exceptional quality. It uniquely combines color, aroma, and flavor in one fruit, making it a standout among southern fruits. Zizhong County introduced the Tarocco Blood Orange from the Citrus Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in 1992. The county’s favorable geographic and natural conditions are highly suitable for the growth of Tarocco Blood Oranges. After trials, demonstrations, and promotion, the fruit has now spread across the entire county. Nearly all 33 towns (townships) grow Tarocco Blood Oranges, which have become a “star tree” and “money tree” in the eyes of the local people. In 1995, Zizhong Tarocco Blood Oranges won a “Gold Award” at the Second China Agricultural Fair, followed by the title of “Famous Brand Product” at the 1999 China International Agricultural Fair. In the two years leading up to the 2004 and 2005 Spring Festivals, Zizhong Tarocco Blood Oranges were selected for purchase by central government agencies, earning widespread praise and steadily increasing their reputation. They are now sold in major markets such as Xinjiang, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Urumqi, Chongqing, and Chengdu, with plans to expand exports to Southeast Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States—showcasing strong market potential. Through twelve years of persistent effort, the Tarocco Blood Orange has become one of Zizhong County’s leading forestry industries, playing a vital role in the county’s national economic development and rural prosperity.

　　　　Now, seizing the opportunity of its bid to be named the “Home of China’s Tarocco Blood Orange,” Zizhong County has intensified efforts in base construction. The county’s Party committee and government have drawn up plans to establish Tarocco Blood Orange bases spanning over 20,000 mu in contiguous areas in towns such as Guide and Shunhechang. The goal is to reach a cultivation scale of 150,000 mu within two years and achieve a fresh fruit output of 500,000 tons by five years (i.e., 2010), making the Tarocco Blood Orange a true pillar for farmers’ prosperity, agricultural vitality, and rural economic growth.