Honey peaches grown in Ningbo's Fenghua district hit the market in the city. [Photo/WeChat account: nbfb0574] 

Honey peaches produced in Ningbo's Fenghua district recently hit the market in the city. 

The picking season will last until mid-to-late August. 

The honey peach plantation area in Fenghua reached 53,000 mu (3,533.3 hectares) this year and produced an estimated 40,000 metric tons of peaches.

Chen Miaojin, deputy head of the peach research institute in Fenghua district, revealed that the quality of honey peaches is higher than usual, as the rainy season is set to end earlier this year. 

Last year, the district established a local premium honey peach brand called "Huangxi Fengtao" in an effort to boost the growth of the local honey peach industry and help farmers increase their incomes.

This year, a strict selection system for the premium brand was put in place. Honey peaches have been classified into different grades according to their weight, sugar content and appearance. 

"Premium" peaches should weigh between 250 to 300 grams. A pack of eight premium honey peaches is priced at 128 yuan ($18.55) this year.

Honey peaches have been grown in Fenghua for more than 2,000 years, which is why the district has been dubbed the "hometown of honey peaches in China". The fruit grown in the district is renowned for its strong fragrance and soft, juicy and sweet taste.