On 20th, May, Valencia oranges gardens in the Xietan Township, Zigui County were opened to both buyers and tourists. Nearly 1,000 tourists entered the gardens to pick oranges, sharing the joy of a big harvest. Mr. Roland, from Kazakhstan Kumar Fruit Import & Export Corporation, and over 20 merchants from inside and outside Hubei Province, purchased 31 tons of Valencia oranges from the gardens.

　　Zigui Valencia oranges are called “King of fruit in May”. In the early summer, most fruits are still not ripe for sale yet, so Valencia oranges account for about 50% of the fruits in the market. The Valencia oranges mainly grow in Xietan, Shuitianba, Shazhenxi, Guojiaba and other townships. Xietan Valencia orange is a special variety of sweet oranges. Their flowers bloom in the early April this year and the fruits ripen in the same month of the following year, so in April their flowers and fruits grow on the tree at the same time, which becomes unique scenery in the Three Gorges reservoir area.

　　Thanks to the demonstration effects of boutique orchards and professional cooperatives, 3,000 villagers from ten villages in the Xietan Township have planted Valencia oranges. With a planting area of 15,000mu, the Valencia oranges produced by this township have surpassed 30 million kg. Besides, the Xietan Valencia oranges successively passed the authentication of the A-class certificate by China Green Food Development Center, registered the trademark of “Xiling Gorge”, and obtained the “Certification of Geographical Indications of Agricultural Products” and “Top 10 National GI Brands of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry”.

　　In recent years, 70% Valencia oranges growers in the township have earned more than 100,000 yuan, which shows that the Valencia oranges have become “profitable fruits” that can help farmers get rich. (Reporter: Tian Yunbing and He Baoxi; correspondent Cui Yu)