Bigger isn't always better

"In the past few months, we have been pleasantly surprised. Our Xinfeng navel oranges have finally made a name for themselves after nearly 30 years of cultivation. In the future, we can proudly announce to the entire nation that these are our navel oranges, belonging to Xinfeng and unparalleled in the entire country."

Applause erupted once again.

"Let me share some good news with you all. These days, I visited supermarkets in Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. Our Xinfeng navel oranges are highly popular, and as a result, major supermarkets have set up a dedicated counter for our oranges. Above it hangs a sign that simply reads 'Xinfeng Navel Oranges'."

As this good news was announced, the applause and cheers grew thunderous, resonating throughout the room.

"Let me share more good news with everyone."

After the applause subsided a bit, County Chief Lan continued, "Although this year we've sold out of our navel oranges, with hardly any left to sell, wholesalers from all over the country have already signed contracts with our fruit growers for next year's wholesale supply. At the same time, the county is preparing certain policies to support our navel oranges. We hope to work together to make the Xinfeng Navel Orange brand bigger and stronger, taking it nationwide and even to the world..."

This time, the applause continued for several minutes.

The fruit growers were all inspired by County Chief Lan's words.

To grow bigger and stronger. Xinfeng navel oranges belonged to Xinfeng and to themselves; this was their advantage.

"You all know that this year's success with our navel oranges couldn't have been achieved without one person. I believe you all know who that person is. However, knowing is one thing, and I'm afraid many of you haven't seen him in person. Well then, without further ado, let's invite our navel orange hero to say a few words..."

After County Chief Lan finished speaking, he stepped aside.

"Mr. Chen, Mr. Chen, stop eating."

"Why?"

"County Chief Lan invited the navel orange hero to the stage to speak."

"Who is this navel orange hero? Let me see."

Chen Yu looked up from his plate, only to find an empty stage, with no navel orange hero in sight.

"Oh my, Mr. Chen, you are the navel orange hero."

"What?"

"Hurry to the stage; everyone is waiting for you to speak."

Shi Lanfang urged Chen Yu to proceed.

County Chief Lan also turned his gaze toward him.

"Am I really the navel orange hero?" Chen Yu pointed to himself. "I'm just an internet marketer, not any navel orange hero."

However, regardless of Chen Yu's reluctance, he had to step onto the stage.

"It turns out he's Mr. Chen. I thought he was just an intern from the Agricultural Bureau earlier."

"My goodness, he's so young."

"Indeed, he looks to be around 20, just as the rumors say."

As Chen Yu took the stage, the fruit growers in the audience couldn't help but express their amazement.

"Well, I'm not exactly a navel orange hero," Chen Yu began. "I simply advertised Xinfeng navel oranges online. Of course, my primary motive was to sell my own navel oranges, so I can't quite claim the title of a hero."

Chen Yu addressed County Chief Lan and the audience. "But, since County Chief Lan invited me on stage, I'll say a few words. Pardon me if I don't speak eloquently."

Although he hadn't prepared anything beforehand, Chen Yu felt compelled to speak now that he was on stage. Drawing from the development strategy of Xinfeng navel oranges in the future, he continued, "Uncles and fellow villagers, I'm not a traditional fruit grower. My family has never grown navel oranges. My involvement with navel oranges was quite coincidental. However, perhaps this is the reason I have a clear perspective on our hometown's navel oranges."

"The success of Xinfeng navel oranges this year can be attributed to online advertising, the quality of our Xinfeng oranges, and, of course, the lack of attention given to navel oranges by high-ranking officials in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong... In any case, our Xinfeng navel oranges have sold well this year. But, although this year was a great success, what about next year? Can Xinfeng navel oranges achieve the same level of success next year?"

County Chief Lan has outlined various favorable policies to promote the growth and strengthening of Xinfeng navel oranges. Chen Yu added, "I believe this is an excellent plan. The navel orange industry is a sustainable sector that can be passed down to our future generations. However, if everyone rushes to plant navel oranges in response to these policies, will we eventually face oversupply issues in the market?"

"We all know about something called the 'pork cycle'. When pork prices rise, the number of breeding sows increases, and pork supply goes up. But as pork supply increases, pork prices fall. When pork prices decline, many breeding sows are culled, which, in turn, reduces the supply of pork and causes prices to rise again. This cycle repeats..."

"Could a similar cycle affect our navel orange industry? If navel orange prices rise, we may plant large quantities of navel oranges. But as we do that, navel orange supply increases and prices begin to drop. If navel orange prices fall, we might have to cut down the previously planted navel orange trees ourselves..."

Although Chen Yu was relatively young, he stumped a group of fruit growers instantly, including County Chief Lan. If what Chen Yu said was true, then the various policies designed to support navel orange farming might indeed lead numerous fruit growers to plant navel oranges extensively. With a significant increase in supply, navel orange prices would naturally drop.

"Of course, I may have painted a rather severe picture. Currently, the market has just started to open up, and the demand for navel oranges far exceeds the supply. It's entirely reasonable for us to expand the cultivation area for navel oranges. However, if we don't consider this issue, then sooner or later, our Xinfeng navel oranges, and our fellow fruit growers, will find themselves in a big dilemma."

"Chen Yu, you're right; we do need to consider this issue," County Chief Lan added, "But what if such a problem arises in the future? How do we solve it?"

County Chief Lan sighed after speaking. He felt as though he had asked a futile question. The reason the pork cycle was considered a law was that it always followed that pattern, and you couldn't control it. Not a local government or even a national one could control the pork cycle because it was a natural law. Since it couldn't be changed, how could it be solved?

However, to County Chief Lan's surprise, Chen Yu said, "It's not that hard to solve; it just requires a concerted effort."

Chen Yu continued, "County Chief Lan mentioned earlier that Xinfeng navel oranges need to grow and strengthen. This is the first step. The second step is to focus on producing high-quality navel oranges. Only by achieving excellence, making it impossible for others to surpass us, and being so competitive that no one else can compete can we ensure that Xinfeng navel oranges remain competitive in the market forever."

This statement resonated with all the fruit growers in the audience. Navel oranges were not exclusive to Xinfeng; all eighteen counties around Ganzhou grew them. Beyond Ganzhou, provinces like Hubei and Sichuan also cultivated navel oranges. Expanding the cultivation area without considering quality would inevitably lead to a replay of the pork cycle pattern. However, by harnessing the unique climate and geographical advantages of Xinfeng navel oranges and implementing strict cultivation systems, they could elevate Xinfeng navel oranges to an unparalleled level of excellence.