Deqing Gonggan Tangerines Exported to Canada for First Time

On Dec. 5, a batch of Deqing Gonggan tangerines weighing 21.35 metric tons was shipped to North America. The shipment is expected to arrive around New Year’s Day 2022 and represents the first time that this Chinese citrus fruit has been exported to Canada.

The tangerines were exported by Guangdong Zhongli Agricultural Group Co. Ltd. (Sinolychee). The company is continuing to develop export demand in other regions, while also taking into account the domestic medium- and high-end market demand. Total domestic and international sales of Deqing Gonggan tangerines this year are expected to reach approximately 1,000 tons.

The Gonggan tangerine, or “tribute tangerine,” was named after a tribute of the fruit given to Emperor Song Gaozong during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 C.E.). Deqing County, which is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Zhaoqing, is located in western Guangdong province on the north bank of the Xijiang River. It is the primary production area of Gonggan tangerines, and growers there have been cultivating the citrus fruit for more than 1,300 years. This local tangerine is gold in color and has a thin, lustrous peel and a crisp, tender and sweet flesh.

At present, the planting area of Gonggan tangerines is over 8,000 hectares, and there are five export bases, which have already successfully exported the tangerines to the Dutch market. The total output of Deqing Gonggan tangerines is expected to reach 263,000 tons this year, 50,000 tons of which will be considered premium quality. This year, Deqing Gonggan tangerines hit the market on Nov. 15, and the season is expected to last until mid-January of next year.

Image: Pixabay

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.