From field to fortune: Fruit sweetens lives of many

An event unfolded in Xiangshan county, Ningbo, on Dec 6, during which four individuals intertwined their experiences in cultivation, production, sales, and conservation to weave a narrative of the Red Beauty citrus.

Over the course of two decades of meticulous nurturing, Red Beauty has blossomed into a symbol of agricultural excellence in Zhejiang, with its allure extending far beyond Xiangshan. 

Shi Wenchuan, secretary-general of the Xiangshan Citrus Industry Alliance, outlined the evolutionary stages of Xiangshan Red Beauty, from experimental breakthroughs to widespread adoption and comprehensive development. Pioneering advanced cultivation techniques such as facility heating acceleration, winter cultivation in facilities, full ripening under plastic film covers, the quality of Red Beauty continues to soar, yielding increasing benefits.

Gu Ying, heir of China's first Red Beauty citrus planting family, shared the family's strong bond with the fruit. With the help of agricultural technical staff, the family built facilities and greenhouses to overcome a dependency on weather conditions for citrus cultivation, successfully developing Xiangshan Red Beauty citrus that surpasses other varieties in color, taste, and sugar content. 

"My father said that making money alone is meaningless; helping everyone make money is the real challenge. He chose to give technology and seedlings away for free," said Gu.

Yang Haibo is the fruit's salesman. Last year, he led his team in selling nearly 2 million kilograms of Xiangshan Red Beauty, generating over 40 million yuan ($5.49 million) and earning him the title of "Sales King".

"When I first encountered Red Beauty, its poetic name and sweet taste attracted me," said Yang.

He distributed samples of the fruit to clients and friends as a trial, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. As a result, he decided to promote Red Beauty to wider markets. In 2020, he visited supermarkets, hotels, and restaurants in Shanghai, despite frequently facing rejection. The next year, he established Xiangshan Xinguo Agricultural Co Ltd. In its first year, the company's sales reached 2.41 million yuan, and in 2023, this figure surpassed 40 million yuan.

Huang Xucheng is a farmer from Yuelou village whose life has changed since he started cultivating and selling Red Beauty.

"When I was young, my father got up at 3 am every day to work, returning late at night for a daily wage of 40 yuan. At the end of the year, our family's income was just 10,000 to 20,000 yuan," said Huang.

In 2014, he and his father switched to cultivating the Red Beauty citrus on their plot, which was only 6 mu (0.4 hectares). With diligence and hard work, he managed to found a farm, and his family devoted themselves to the citrus business. Now Huang has expanded his cultivation area to over 40 mu and ventured into the distribution end, helping farmers sell their fruits.