(한라봉) Hallabong citrus is popular for its sweet and tangy flavor.
A new variety, called Suneat, is notably sweeter with lower acidity than other hallabong and is becoming a new cash crop for local farmers.
Todd Thacker reports.

Report

This is a (한라봉) Hallabong farm in (남원읍) Namwon-eup, Seogwipo.
Branches are weighed down with reddish citrus.
This is a new variety of Hallabong called Suneat.


The new variety, which was registered as “Suneat” in 2016, has been distributed across local citrus farms.
It has a redder skin and is similar or larger in size to the Hallabong.


Like the image of the Sun, it has a lower acidity, while being sweeter than Hallabong.


It has a 13 brix of sweetness on average. That’s 1 brix higher than Hallabong.
Its low acidity and notable sweetness make it very competitive in the fruit market.
It is harvested 10 days earlier than Hallabong, which means it can be sold during the Lunar New Year’s holiday season.


The price of Hallabong has been set at between 14,000 and 15,000 won for three kilograms. That’s double from last year.
Efforts to improve quality control and the start of shipments of SunEats have contributed to its lucrative price point.



The Jeju Agricultural Research and Extension Services anticipates that SunEat will grow more popular by the year. And so it is making sure that more local farmers have access to this exciting new citrus variety.

Todd Thacker, KCTV