Recently, reporters learn from the city's citrus-selling joint conference that, by September 25, 130,000 tons of citrus have been sold in Yichang, accounting for 3.7% of total output, slightly higher than 3.2% of the same period in 2015.

Wen Zhonghua, director of Yichang Citrus Science Institute, introduces that the city's citrus planting areas have reached 2.0329 million mu this year with an estimated output of 3.5438 million tons. Both the planting areas and the production will set a new record. The output increases 17.85% compared with 3.007 million tons of 2015.

In terms of citrus varieties, the output of Satsuma mandarin reaches 2,393,600 tons, accounting for 67.5% of the total output thus pre-dominating the citrus variety in Yichang. In addition, the orange output reaches 572,800 tons, accounting for 16.1%; the Ponkan output reaches 528,100 tons, accounting for 15%, and the output of other varieties is 49,300 tons, accounting for 1.4%.

Wen Zhonghua tells reporters that Yichang rare-ripe tangerines are being sold and pre-dominate the present market. About the citrus-selling in the later period, Wen proposes to do a good job in drought-resisting and output-keeping to ensure the quality of citrus. In addition, considering the sharp drop of citrus output in other parts of the country this year, farmers should be informed and well-prepared for the optimal selling, delayed selling and storage selling of citrus. At the same time, farmers also need to do timely harvest of ripe citrus to win market recognition with a good taste and increase sail prices.

In recent years, as representatives of Yichang citrus, "Yichang tangerine", "Zigui navel orange", and "Qingjiang Ponkan" have gained certain popularity as well as the consumer’s recognition in the domestic market and brand sales have increased year by year. Thus, "Yichang tangerine" has become the country's largest tangerine plate with certain market discourse power and pricing power, realizing the year-on-year income increase and the stable price maintenance. Meanwhile, Yichang citrus export is growing year by year — the fruit export in 2015 exceeded more than 200,000 tons. Russia, Southeast Asia and other neighboring countries and regions are the major markets for the export of Yichang citrus. It has been particularly beneficial to the Yichang citrus selling since Russia banned the import of fruits from Turkey. The city's citrus marketing enterprises, cooperatives, waxing plants and big retailers have established stable sales markets and marketing networks. A group of capable marketing brokers have gradually grown experienced and become an important force for citrus sales in Yichang. In recent two years, the network marketing has developed in full swing, providing a more diversified channel for the sales of citrus.(Reporter Li Pengfei)