The Changshanhuyou tangelo industry thrives in Changshan county, Quzhou, Zhejiang province, with slogans like "All for U" going viral — one of the many meanings of the "U" refers to the local specialty, Changshanhuyou.

The Changshanhuyou tangelo, a citrus hybrid combining sour orange and pomelo, is unique to Changshan county and has a planting history of over 600 years.

Facing challenges such as a limited product range, low prices, and logistical constraints, Changshan has turned to deep processing to boost the Changshanhuyou tangelo industry. This strategy not only addresses surplus fruit but also increases product value.

Zhejiang Aijia Food has launched a new Changshanhuyou tangelo juice, preserving the fruit's authentic flavor through high-pressure processing technology, according to Qin Hanfen, the company's chairman.

Since establishing a processing plant in 2014, Aijia has transformed it into a modern fruit and vegetable processing facility with advanced production lines. The company has also collaborated with universities to develop products like Changshanhuyou tangelo juice, wine, and beer.

Aijia collaborates with 3,000 farmers, providing technical guidance and guaranteeing purchases to ensure farmers' income even in tough market conditions.

A Changshanhuyou tangelo orchard. [Photo/Tide News]

Another key player, Zhejiang Youxianggu Holdings, launched its flagship Songyou Juice in 2020, combining Changshanhuyou tangelo with yuzu, a citrus fruit introduced from abroad and now cultivated in Changshan. This product has significantly boosted the company's revenue, reaching 1.1 billion yuan ($156.6 million) in 2024.

Changshan is now home to 21 Changshanhuyou tangelo deep-processing enterprises that produce 108 different products.

The total output value of the Changshanhuyou tangelo and yuzu industry in Changshan has reached 6.1 billion yuan, increasing the income of 100,000 farmers by over 1.3 billion yuan.