Early-maturing citrus enter harvest season in Ningbo

Farmers harvest citrus in an orchard located in Ninghai county, Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Ningbo Evening News]

The early-maturing varieties of citrus in Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang province have entered the peak harvest season.

Wang Zhai, a farmer from Changjie town, Ninghai county, has reported a notably high citrus yield this year, with an average production of approximately 2,000 kilograms per mu (0.06 hectares).

To accommodate the harvest, Wang's farm currently employs over 20 workers who are responsible for picking, sorting, and packaging the citrus fruits. The farm sells an impressive 5,000 kg of citrus daily, with a wholesale price of around 14 yuan ($1.92) per kg. These oranges are primarily distributed to clients in Shanghai, Jiangsu, and various cities within Zhejiang.

Citrus cultivation thrives as one of the key agricultural industries in Ningbo. Spanning an area of approximately 200,000 mu throughout the year, the majority of the cultivation is concentrated in Xiangshan, Ninghai, and Fenghua regions.