Clients from Northeast China firstly signed 558 million yuan order on the 17th China Green Food Expo in Changchun while two million mu of citrus trees are not yet picked. Why did Yichang citrus cause great sensation in Northeast market?

　　Green environment cultivates ecological citrus.

　　 Good environment is the prestige of Yichang’s green agriculture. The forest coverage in Yichang is 65.7% and the pass rate of quality of drinking water source is 100%. It is a rare and ideal area to grow high quality agricultural products such as citrus. It is said that Yichang is the largest Mandarin orange production base in China with over 2000 years’ history of growing orange. The output this year reaches 3.5 million tons. The unique canyon climate in Three Gorges and blessed natural environment provide favorable condition to grow citrus in large scale in Yichang.

　　 Green quality forges the crown of the industry.

　　 Yichang sweet orange, as the fist product in Yichang’s exhibition area on the Green Food Expo, are praised by the leaders of Ministry of Agriculture, guests, clients and citizens for the good quality with the features of slim and smooth skin, bright color, sweet taste, rich juice and tender flesh. “Green quality is the key that Yichang citrus sells well.” According to the head of Yichang Green Food Management Office, Yichang has 166 citrus products have qualification of Pollution-free Agricultural Products, Green Food and Agro-product Geographical Indications, taking up to 24% qualified agricultural products in Yichang. There are three national green food raw material standardized production base and two Hubei provincial standardized production base.

　　Recently, the journalist visited a citrus farm in Yangjiabang, Cangwubang Village, Yiling District. The branches were bent by oranges. Some oranges are ripe. The skins are thin and bright. Certain weed is planted to expel harmful weed. Indian cow pea is planted to fertile the soil and add organic matter. Irrigation networks are laid under citrus trees to irrigate and fertilize trees automatically. Solar insecticidal lamps and orange cards are installed. Predatory mites were placed on trees to eliminate the sects. The usage of pesticide reduced over 20%. The ridges of the farm are planted with winter wheat. The fertilizer and pesticide from the farm running into the ditches are largely reduced by terrace. “Orange farm turns the garden and we have good orange harvest!” Orange farmers are very happy seeing the fruits on the trees.

　　It is said that Yichang has collected over three billion funds to implement citrus standardized production in these years and construct 600 thousand mu model farms. The pass rate of pollution-free Yichang citrus is over 95%. The high quality rate of citrus is above 80% and excellent rate is above 30%. Yichang citrus industry turns from traditional planting to modern industry. The output ranks first among cities across China. Yichang citrus becomes a shining pearl in China’s high quality citrus industry zone.

　　 Sound brand spreads.

　　The reason why Yichang citrus sell well is that “sound brand is based on the high quality”. Xiong Changquan, head of municipal agriculture bureau told journalist that while strengthening the quality, great importance was attached to brand construct. “In recent years, we have been publicizing Yichang citrus brand, in addition of mass media like CCTV, and nationwide marketing platforms like Green Expo and agriculture fair held by Ministry of Agriculture. It naturally sells well.”

　　Yichang is an area rich in agricultural products. Regional public brands like Yichang sweet orange, Zigui navel orange, and Qingjiang ponkan are sound in the industry. In 2015, Yichang paid 4 million yuan to introduce Yichang sweet orange on CCTV-1 channel during prime time. Yichang will continue to place ads on CCTV. This marketing measure activates Yichang citrus industry.

　　 “Many clients asked me for name cards on Green Food Expo. These days they come here successively. It is too busy.” Yiling Red Brand Yichang sweet orange won the golden prize on this Expo. Wang Enzhen, head of Yichang Citrus Industry Association praised when talking about the impact of citrus brand, “we will follow the strategy of ‘focusing on Northeast, strengthening in North China, developing Northwest and seize East China’ to development citrus sales market and devote to forge Yichang sweet orange brand to make Yichang citrus go to the world.”

　　Journalist Wang Lin, correspondent Yu Wenchang