A promotional event for Yantai apples was held on Jan 8 in Beijing as the second stop of the well-renowned fruit's precision marketing tour.

Jointly organized by the information office of the Yantai government and the city's agricultural bureau, the event was attended by more than 200 participants, including distinguished guests from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Chinese Agri-products Marketing Association and the China Fruit Marketing Association. Beijing wholesale markets, fruit franchisers from across the country, enterprises representatives from Yantai and several media outlets were also in attendance.

"Yantai has been designated by the Ministry of Agriculture as the country's dominant apple producing region and has been hailed as a base for high-quality apples. The city has established a long-term cooperative partnership with Beijing over the years, and Beijing has become the largest sales market for Yantai apples", said Li Ming, top official from the Yantai government.

Li said that the promotional event was expected to further enhance cooperation between the two cities, as well as deepen Beijingers' understanding of Yantai and Yantai apples.

According to Yantai government, Beijing's annual consumption of Yantai apples amounted to 500,000 tons.

"The Yantai apple is a golden brand among Chinese fruit. In recent years it has embarked on an innovative path of development, including seed selection, breeding, different planting methods and brand building," said Zhang Yuxiang, president of the Chinese Agri-products Marketing Association.

Zhang Yuelin, manager of the Beijng Xinfadi Wholesale Market, said that Yantai apples feature a high quality red color and are crisp and sweet. Yantai apples are very popular with consumers, though a bit pricy.

Following talks between Yantai's well-known enterprises and Beijing wholesale markets, many contracts were signed, amounting to 23,000 tons of apples.

The name, "pingguo" (apple) implicates happiness and peace in Chinese. During the promotion event, baskets of Yantai apples were given to Beijing residents to wish them a happy and fortunate new year.

The Yantai apple is a golden brand of Chinese fruit and a highlight of Yantai agriculture products.Since apples were introduced into Yantai in 1871, China has become the largest apple producing and consuming country in the world. After continuous technological innovation, quality upgrading and brand building, Yantai apples have taken the lead in China's apple industry.