Jeongeup City Challenges Jeju... Jeongeupsan Hongyehyang 'Full-Scale Shipment'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jae-gil] Jeongeup City, Jeonbuk Province, announced on the 11th that it has officially started harvesting Hongyehyang (Redhyang), which is emerging as a new source of income.

The representative citrus hybrids produced in Jeju Island are Hallabong and Redhyang, subtropical crops created by crossbreeding tangerines and oranges.

Until just a few years ago, cultivation in inland areas with severe winter cold was considered difficult due to sensitivity to low temperatures.

Since 2013, Jeongeup City has been conducting experimental research on citrus hybrids as income crops responding to climate change and has been distributing them to farms. Currently, 33 farms cultivate 10 hectares.

The main varieties are Redhyang, Cheonhyehyang, and Hallabong. To enhance the distinctiveness of Jeonbuk’s citrus hybrids, ‘Redhyang’ is named ‘Hongyehyang’ and ‘Cheonhyehyang’ is named ‘Cheonnyeonhyang’.

The main harvest season for citrus hybrids is from December to February. Compared to Onjumilgam, they have a unique taste and aroma and a longer storage period, making them very popular.

Additionally, they contain high amounts of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which are excellent for blood circulation, cold prevention, and skin beauty.

Among them, Hongyehyang (Redhyang) is a cross between Hallabong and tangerine. It is larger and flatter than regular tangerines, and its main characteristic is a reddish hue when fully ripe.

In particular, the fruit’s skin is thin and smooth, with a well-balanced blend of sourness and sweetness. The average sugar content is over 13 Brix, making it a variety known for its excellent taste, appearance, and quality.

A city official said, “Interest in citrus hybrids among Jeongeup area farms is increasing,” and added, “We will focus on creating a new source of income for farms through improvements in cultivation facilities such as soil and sugar content management for high-quality fruit cultivation and support for smart farms.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.