Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormPuree
Industry PositionProcessed Fruit Ingredient
Market
Lemon puree in China is produced as a processed fruit ingredient, with upstream lemon supply strongly concentrated in Anyue County (Ziyang, Sichuan) under the protected GI “Anyue Lemon”. Anyue is described as China’s only county-level lemon production base and a major hub for lemon processing, supporting downstream lemon-derived products used for domestic industrial demand and export programs. Compliance attention for lemon puree produced in China commonly centers on pesticide-residue controls (GB 2763-2026) and additive permissions (GB 2760-2024), plus prepackaged labeling rules (GB 7718-2025) when sold in China. A systemic upstream supply-disruption risk is citrus greening (huanglongbing), with the pathogen and its psyllid vector recorded as present in China (including Sichuan) in EPPO’s Global Database.
Market RoleMajor producer and processor (Anyue/Sichuan-centered upstream); domestic industrial ingredient supply with export activity
Domestic RoleIndustrial ingredient input for domestic food and beverage manufacturing
SeasonalityAnyue (Sichuan) lemons are described as flowering and bearing fruit multiple times per year; processing availability is therefore less strictly seasonal than many single-harvest crops, though buyer programs still depend on plant health and processing capacity.
Specification
Primary VarietyEureka-type lemon (Anyue lemon GI context)
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Sichuan (Anyue/Ziyang) lemon orchards → primary processing (washing, crushing/pulping) → thermal processing (e.g., pasteurization) → packing (aseptic or frozen, depending on buyer program) → domestic industrial distribution and/or export shipment
Temperature- Aseptic programs can support ambient distribution; frozen programs require continuous cold-chain control through export logistics.
Freight IntensityHigh
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Plant Health HighCitrus greening (huanglongbing, HLB) is a destructive citrus disease; EPPO’s Global Database lists both the HLB-associated pathogen ('Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus') and its vector (Diaphorina citri) as present in China (including Sichuan). This creates a systemic upstream supply risk for lemons used in lemon puree, potentially reducing yields and destabilizing raw-material availability.Require orchard-level biosecurity and vector-management programs; audit supplier plant-health monitoring; diversify sourcing within/alongside the Anyue (Sichuan) cluster; hold buffer inventory for ingredient programs where feasible.
Regulatory Compliance MediumNon-compliance with pesticide-residue limits and additive rules can trigger rejection or remediation costs, especially when meeting destination-country limits and China’s national food safety standards (e.g., GB 2763-2026 for pesticide MRLs; GB 2760-2024 for food additive use).Implement pre-shipment multi-residue testing aligned to target-market MRLs; maintain supplier pesticide-use records; validate additive use and labeling claims against applicable standards and buyer specs.
Logistics MediumBulk lemon puree is freight-intensive; ocean freight volatility and any cold-chain constraints (for frozen programs) can materially affect delivered cost, lead times, and service levels, especially for inland-origin supply chains centered in Sichuan.Lock freight capacity for peak windows; confirm ambient vs frozen program requirements early; design packaging and shipment sizes to optimize container utilization; maintain alternative routings and safety stock for critical SKUs.
FAQ
Where is China’s upstream lemon supply most concentrated for lemon puree sourcing?GI materials describe Anyue County in Ziyang City, Sichuan Province as China’s key lemon production base, with planting area/output/market share reported as over 80% of China’s total under the “Anyue Lemon” context.
Which China national standards are most relevant to pesticide residues and additive use for lemon puree produced in China?China’s national food safety standards include GB 2763-2026 for maximum pesticide residue limits in food and GB 2760-2024 for food additive use, both issued via National Health Commission announcements.
What is the single biggest upstream biological risk to China’s lemon-based ingredient supply chain?Citrus greening (huanglongbing, HLB) is a major citrus disease; EPPO’s Global Database lists both the associated pathogen ('Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus') and its psyllid vector (Diaphorina citri) as present in China, including Sichuan, which can disrupt lemon availability for processing.