Chongqing - On March 22, a freighter aircraft of Cathay Pacific's Boeing 747 carrying 10 tons of Fengjie navel oranges departed from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport for Singapore. This is the first time that Fengjie navel oranges are exported by air.

Chongqing's Fengjie County is one of the world's top eight special production areas of navel oranges and one of the core production areas of high-quality navel oranges in China. 

After over 2,300 years of cultivation, Fengjie navel orange trees can bear fruits for eight months a year.

5,000 tons of Fengjie navel oranges to be exported in 2023

The project of exporting Fengjie navel oranges by air, jointly launched by JD Technology (JDT) and Chongqing Airport Group Co., Ltd., aims to promote the free flow of regional characteristic products in RCEP countries, the world's largest free trade zone.

According to Chang Shihua, Deputy Mayor of Fengjie County, more than 1,000 tons of China Three Gorges citrus (Fengjie navel oranges) were exported to Singapore, Vietnam, and other countries last year, and 5,000 tons are expected to be shipped this year.

In the first season, 100 tons of navel oranges will be exported in batches by air from Wushan Airport to Singapore, with a connecting flight at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport.

"With the strong cooperation between Wushan Airport and Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, Fengjie navel oranges can be transported to Singapore and other RCEP countries within 24 hours," said the relevant head of Chongqing Airport Group. "It not only improves the timeliness of cargo transportation but also ensures the quality of the navel oranges."

To ensure the efficient transportation of Fengjie navel oranges, Chongqing Airport Group has opened a "green channel," formulated a customized plan, dispatched special personnel, and set up special zones.

Facilitate sales overseas through multi-channels

Fengjie has also established China Three Gorges Citrus (Fengjie Navel Orange) Trading Center, the largest navel orange trading center in the Three Gorges Reservoir area. 

The trading center can purchase navel oranges from farmers who lack sales channels and sell the products to e-commerce companies, supermarkets, and farmers' markets.

The trading center can also continuously attract fruit export enterprises to set offices in Fengjie to expand sales channels for the county's navel oranges in overseas markets.

Supported by the government's incentive measures, live-streaming promotion, and e-commerce multi-channel sales, Fengjie County can seek new opportunities for the sales of agricultural products around the world.