The University of Queensland, through a commercialization company called UniQuest, is looking to establish production of a Chinese fruit known as Yeng Mei, also called the Chinese or Red Bayberry, UniQuest said in a statement.

The company seeks to replicate the success of kiwi, which was planted in New Zealand in the early 1900s and was called Yang Tao or Chinese Gooseberry.

The Red Bayberry fruit is similar in size to cherries and has been grown in China for centuries. The fruit is currently not grown outside of China. UniQuest is looking for international investors to get the project started.

New varieties of Red Bayberry, developed at the university, are now thriving in Australia’s subtropics, producing commercial yields of fruit just three years after transplanting. UniQuest has taken measures to ensure that it holds the property and licensing rights to guarantee revenue.

“We have had a lot of interest from Australian fruit growers, and a small group along the east coast of Australia will receive their first trees to trial early next year,” said UniQuest manager of innovation and commercial development, Cameron Turner.

Photo: University of Queensland

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com