Red Beauty citrus: From orchard to industry

[Video/Ningbo Evening News]

Ningbo's Xiangshan county is transforming its famous Red Beauty citrus, or Hong Mei Ren, into a thriving example of modern agriculture that combines technology, branding, and social impact.

Ali, an agricultural researcher from Iran, visited Xiangshan's orchards to gain firsthand insight into the Red Beauty industry, where Li Zhao, a major grower in Xiaotang township, highlighted that careful pruning, fruit thinning, and sorting, supported by technical guidance and brand-protection measures, have ensured both high quality and strong market demand.

Ali also met Cha Guangju, a Yi ethnic minority farmer who relocated from southwest China's Yunnan province, who started by renting land and learning cultivation skills, gradually expanding her orchard. Today, Red Beauty citrus is her family's primary source of income and has inspired other villagers in the region to enter the industry.

At Xiangshan Weibutong Agricultural Development Co, Ali spoke with General Manager Gu Shu about the company's approach to grading, branding, and market expansion. Through standardized cultivation, intelligent sorting, and cold-chain logistics, Red Beauty has evolved from raw fruit into a premium brand that reaches high-end domestic markets and international buyers in the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, and Thailand.

Ali observed that the industry prioritizes quality, sustainability, and shared benefits for farmers, minority households, and enterprises, noting that Xiangshan's approach offers a successful, inclusive model for building a prosperous and forward-looking agricultural sector.