Yantai apples, with a brand value of 14.14 billion yuan ($2.02 billion), were named the most valuable fruit brand in China at the fifth China Fruit Industry Brand Conference held in Changsha, Hunan province on Nov 22.

According to the report, Luochuan apples in Shaanxi province and Qixia apples also in Yantai took second and third place, with brand values of 7.31 billion yuan and 6.2 billion yuan respectively. The brand value of Yantai cherries also performed well with a brand value of 5.08 billion yuan.

Yantai apples have been the top fruit brand in China for 11 consecutive years. In recent years, the city has been stressing the importance of regional branding innovation, quality promotion and marketing platforms to stimulate local agricultural development in recent years.

There are more than 100 varieties of Yantai apples. Long popular in domestic and foreign markets for their bright color and sweet and succulent taste, the apples have a history of over 140 years. They have been exported to more than 30 countries and regions including Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Russia.