Yichang’s summer oranges enter harvest season
2026-06-04 20:06:17
By Zhao Entao
Golden summer oranges hung heavy on the trees in the citrus groves of Meirentuo Village, Yiling District, in early June. Farmers were busy harvesting the fruit. Favorable weather this year has boosted both quality and yield by nearly 30 percent.
In the orchards, monorail carts shuttle back and forth, transporting fruit and fertilizer with ease. Farmers say the carts are simple, reliable, and efficient.
According to local agricultural authorities, Yichang’s summer orange planting area covers 46,800 mu this year, with expected output exceeding 95,000 tons. Sales have already reached 27.2 percent of the total harvest.
Summer orange is one of Yichang’s signature navel orange varieties. It is grown mainly in Zigui, Xingshan, Changyang, and Yiling, and reaches the market from June to July. The harvest begins just as the Lunwan navel orange season ends, helping maintain a steady supply of fresh fruit. Its off-season availability has increased market value and boosted growers’ incomes.
Xietan Township in Zigui County is known as the home of summer oranges in China. There, farmers are busy picking, sorting, and packing fruit for the market. In one packing facility, workers carefully sort and box the oranges before cold-chain trucks transport them to Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and other destinations. The company uses intelligent sorting and sugar-testing equipment, while an eight-level quality control system tracks every stage of production. Since purchasing began in late May, combined sales of Lunwan and summer oranges have reached 90,000 kilograms. The fruit arrives at its destination within 24 hours of leaving the orchard.
In recent years, Yichang has promoted a citrus quality improvement program focused on standardized production and the expansion of modern orchards. Green cultivation practices are becoming more widespread, with growers adopting environmentally friendly pest control methods, replacing chemical fertilizers with organic alternatives, and planting green manure crops. These efforts have steadily improved the quality of summer oranges and strengthened the reputation of the brand both at home and abroad.
Golden summer oranges hung heavy on the trees in the citrus groves of Meirentuo Village, Yiling District, in early June. Farmers were busy harvesting the fruit. Favorable weather this year has boosted both quality and yield by nearly 30 percent.
Summer orange orchard in Zigui. Photo by Zhou Shiwei
In the orchards, monorail carts shuttle back and forth, transporting fruit and fertilizer with ease. Farmers say the carts are simple, reliable, and efficient.
According to local agricultural authorities, Yichang’s summer orange planting area covers 46,800 mu this year, with expected output exceeding 95,000 tons. Sales have already reached 27.2 percent of the total harvest.
Summer orange is one of Yichang’s signature navel orange varieties. It is grown mainly in Zigui, Xingshan, Changyang, and Yiling, and reaches the market from June to July. The harvest begins just as the Lunwan navel orange season ends, helping maintain a steady supply of fresh fruit. Its off-season availability has increased market value and boosted growers’ incomes.
Xietan Township in Zigui County is known as the home of summer oranges in China. There, farmers are busy picking, sorting, and packing fruit for the market. In one packing facility, workers carefully sort and box the oranges before cold-chain trucks transport them to Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and other destinations. The company uses intelligent sorting and sugar-testing equipment, while an eight-level quality control system tracks every stage of production. Since purchasing began in late May, combined sales of Lunwan and summer oranges have reached 90,000 kilograms. The fruit arrives at its destination within 24 hours of leaving the orchard.
In recent years, Yichang has promoted a citrus quality improvement program focused on standardized production and the expansion of modern orchards. Green cultivation practices are becoming more widespread, with growers adopting environmentally friendly pest control methods, replacing chemical fertilizers with organic alternatives, and planting green manure crops. These efforts have steadily improved the quality of summer oranges and strengthened the reputation of the brand both at home and abroad.
Zigui summer oranges. Photo by Zhou ShiweiJie Xingwei also contributed to this story
