Autumn brings sweet harvest to Ningbo orchards

Wang Hefang and his wife pick tangerines. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

Chunxiao subdistrict in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, is celebrating a record tangerine harvest as autumn settles in, demonstrating both agricultural skill and rural vitalization efforts.

At Xianchang village, orchards are laden with plump, golden tangerines. Families and farmers move through the rows, clipping fruit into baskets, and the air is filled with the sweet scent of ripe tangerines.

"These trees produce small, smooth-skinned fruit with excellent flavor. Harvesting with my wife and son is even more rewarding," said Wang Hefang, a local grower. "It sold out as soon as it hit the market. One kilogram goes for 8 to 10 yuan ($1.12 to 1.40), and the five-kilogram gift boxes are often bought in multiples."

The harvest's success is due to both natural advantages and careful cultivation. Coastal soils and abundant sunlight help sugar accumulate in the fruit, while dwarfing techniques produce round, easy-to-pick tangerines. Across the subdistrict, over 33 hectares are expected to yield 720 metric tons this year.

Local officials noted that the harvest demonstrates the integration of traditional farming, modern management, and rural development. By expanding specialty crops and linking them with wider markets, Chunxiao is turning seasonal abundance into sustainable economic growth and community prosperity, while also enriching the region's agri-tourism offerings.