Beilun is a city in Zhejiang province on the East coast of China and has a long history of growing tangerines. Current market prices, however, are low. Prices on wholesale markets hover around 1 yuan per kilo and retail prices about 5 yuan per kilo. In order to solve this problem, a new, up-market, variety named Hongmei Ren has been cultivated.
Hongmei ren is easy to peel and matures quicker compared to other varieties of tangerine. Besides this, its pulp is delicate and the citrus has a sugar content of 14 brix. Market price is relatively high with 30 Yuan per kg, but the tangarine has proven popular in Xiangshan. The CEO of Qingtai Orchard in Beilun thinks that the Hongmei Ren could potentially be very successful on the local market and has planted 300 Hongmei Ren trees in his orchard. It will take about 3 years before the new trees any bear fruit.