A team of graduate students from the Citrus Research Institute of Southwest University sold out 5,000 boxes of a newly developed hybrid citrus variety in just seven days. The Citrus Research Institute in Chongqing, China, is affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
It all started when Li Shunxin, a graduate student under researcher Cao Li, and four classmates formed a small sales team on Oct. 15. They began promoting Sunshine No. 2 — the fifth-generation hybrid citrus developed by Cao after more than a decade of research — across social media platforms. Within a week, their posts went viral, orders poured in from all over China and the fruit quickly sold out. Customers praised its rich flavor and sweetness.
After media reports of its viral success, the research group was inundated with phone calls and online messages asking when new batches of Sunshine No. 2 would be available.
“We really didn’t expect this,” said Cao, who has been breeding hybrid citrus for years. “I wanted my students to gain practical experience beyond the lab — to understand the market, interact with consumers and learn how science connects to real life.”
Li said the sales project began as a way to earn some living expenses and practice communication and management skills. “Professor Cao always tells us that graduate students shouldn’t just write papers. We should learn how to apply our strengths in real-world contexts,” Li said.
Sunshine No. 2 is the latest in a long line of carefully bred hybrids descending from well-known varieties such as mandarin, grapefruit, navel orange and satsuma.
Cao’s research team has previously developed Golden Autumn Sugar Mandarin — China’s first commercially promoted hybrid citrus — and Sunshine No. 1 — a grapefruit-mandarin hybrid known for its balanced flavor. Golden Autumn is now sold in major supermarkets across Chongqing, while Sunshine No. 1 is expected to enter the market this December.
“Our citrus groves are carefully managed by experts and strictly follow green, pesticide-free standards,” Cao noted. “We don’t use high-toxicity pesticides or ripening agents. Everything is grown naturally.”
Cao said the student sales team plans to relaunch sales in late November when Sunshine No. 1 ripens for harvest. “We’re thrilled by everyone’s enthusiasm,” he said, “but more importantly, we’re learning how to connect research, innovation and practice in a meaningful way.”
Source: iChongqing
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