Qinglong Navel Oranges

Qinglong Navel Oranges

　　Qinglong Navel Oranges have bright orange rinds with well-developed oil glands, smooth and vibrant in color. They feature small fruit cores, tender and juicy flesh that is fine-textured and easy to separate, with a refreshing sweet-and-sour flavor, abundant juice, and a relatively strong fruity taste with a hint of fragrance. Primarily produced in Qinglong County, Guizhou Province, they are mostly grown in valley areas and mid-mountain plateaus at elevations of 750 to 1,100 meters. The growing regions enjoy relatively high temperatures, with an annual average temperature of 16.1–18.2°C, an accumulated annual temperature ≥10°C of 4,933–6,033°C, relative humidity of around 82%, and annual precipitation of over 1,150 mm. The soil is mostly purple sandy loam and yellow soil, with good surface structure, deep and fertile layers rich in potassium. The oranges are spherical or slightly flattened in shape, with a vertical diameter of 6.25 cm and a horizontal diameter of 7.41 cm. The average single fruit weight is 179.65 g, the rind is 0.47 cm thick, and the core is small and semi-firm, with the central part becoming soft and the segments easy to separate. The edible portion makes up 66–72% of the total fruit weight. Each 100 ml of juice contains 6.00–8.89 g of sugar, 0.5–1.26 g of acid, and 9.0–12.0% soluble solids. Primarily consumed fresh, they are extremely delicious and can also be made into pure juice or beverages. According to the “One-Cheng Car Three-Year Admonishment Prefecture Annals,” Qinglong Navel Oranges have over 100 years of cultivation history. In 1982, they won second place among national regional citrus varieties at the National Citrus Evaluation Conference.

　　Qinglong Navel Oranges have over 100 years of cultivation history and are mostly grown in valley areas and mid-mountain plateaus at elevations of 750 to 1,100 meters. The growing regions enjoy relatively high temperatures, with an annual average temperature of 16.1–18.2°C, an accumulated annual temperature ≥10°C of 4,933–6,033°C, relative humidity of around 82%, and annual precipitation of over 1,150 mm. The soil is mostly purple sandy loam and yellow soil, with good surface structure, deep and fertile layers rich in potassium.

　　Qinglong Navel Oranges are neatly and elegantly shaped, with bright orange-red, lustrous colors. Their surfaces are fine and smooth, the flesh is crisp and tender, the juice is abundant, the flavor is richly sweet, and the aroma is unique, leaving a long-lasting aftertaste. They are excellent for fresh consumption. They also offer health benefits; long-term consumption can help soften blood vessels, enhance heart and brain function, and prevent diseases such as cancer, stroke, diabetes, and constipation. They have good storage and transport resistance, with a long shelf life—products stored at room temperature until April of the following year maintain their flavor and meet Grade A green food standards, having been granted the right to use the green food logo.

　　The main production base for Qinglong Navel Oranges, the Qinglong County Citrus Farm, was established in 1975. In 1986, it was approved by the Guizhou Provincial Department of Agriculture as a local state-run citrus farm, under the administration of the state farm system, with total assets of 23.5 million yuan, fixed assets of 14.78 million yuan, and an orchard management area of 6,100 mu. The navel orange base relying on the county citrus farm has been named a Famous Base for High-Quality Crops in the South Subtropical Zone by the State Administration of Farming and Reclamation and the Office of South Subtropical Crops. The “Qingzhen Brand” Qinglong Navel Oranges produced by the base were granted the green food logo by the Ministry of Agriculture. In 1999, they received awards such as Famous Brand Product at the China International Agricultural Expo and China’s Famous Fruit. In 2006, the “Qingzhen Brand” trademark was recognized as a Famous Trademark of Guizhou Province by the Guizhou Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce. In 2008, Qinglong Navel Oranges were honored as High-Quality Agricultural Products of the Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.