Tangfang Tangerines

Tangfang Tangerines

　　Tangfang Tangerines are a specialty of Tangfang Village, Nanlao Township, Maguan County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province. With over 200 years of cultivation history, these tangerines are known for their thin skin, tender flesh, unique aroma, juicy and seedless texture, sweet and tangy flavor, and late ripening period.

　　Tangfang Tangerines are the most distinctive citrus variety in Maguan County. Grown in Tangfang Village under the jurisdiction of the Tangfang Village Committee, Nanlao Township, they have been cultivated for over 200 years. Known for their thin skin, tender flesh, unique aroma, juicy and seedless texture, sweet and tangy flavor, and late ripening period, they have earned widespread praise among consumers among numerous citrus varieties and are hailed as the "King of Tangerines."

　　Before the 1980s, Tangfang Tangerines were mostly planted sporadically around homes with virtually no large-scale production. After the reform and opening-up, driven by market economic incentives, the planting area gradually expanded, but growth remained very slow. By the year 2000, the planting area had only reached 639 mu. Since the 10th Five-Year Plan period, with strong emphasis and support from Party committees and governments at all levels, along with market incentives, local enthusiasm for planting Tangfang Tangerines surged. In 2001 alone, 3,200 new mu were planted, with 509 mu bearing fruit, yielding a total output of 88 tons and a total value of 834,000 yuan. Witnessing the promising economic returns, growers became even more committed to cultivating Tangfang Tangerines. By the end of 2007, the total planting area had expanded to 8,767 mu, forming a preliminary scale. Of this, 3,166 mu were in production, producing a total yield of 950 tons valued at 3.44 million yuan. That year, the average income per tangerine-growing household was 8,600 yuan, including 12 households earning over 50,000 yuan and 88 households earning between 10,000 and 50,000 yuan.