Comparison of business models of citrus fruit orchards

This study investigates the economic value, planting patterns and marketing methods of four citrus orchards (blood orange, honey tangerine, kumquats and shatang mandarin) in order to evaluate the business model which brings the most economic value and the viability of growing citrus fruit in small farms (<; 2000 meter square) in Miaoli County, Taiwan. In this study, four orchards were interviewed and found that shatang mandarin has the highest economic value with the most complicated planting pattern (partner and customer quality requirements), and that producing and selling your own products is the best marketing method for all citrus. The results of this study may provide office workers with reference to the part-time operation of their own orchards so as to make use of the idle land and to create economic value.