Basic Introduction to Jianning Yellow Pear
The Yellow Pear is a type of sand pear, originally created by the Horticulture Department of Zhejiang Agricultural University through hybridization of the Yellow Honey Pear and Three Flower Pear. Jianning County is located in the northwest of Fujian Province, under the jurisdiction of Sanming City. It is the source of the Fujian River, the mother river of Fujian Province. The county features well-drained, fertile hill slopes and is influenced by a subtropical maritime monsoon climate, which brings abundant sunshine and rainfall, along with significant day-night temperature differences in summer, making it very suitable for the growth of Yellow Pears.
Nutritional Value
The Yellow Pear contains fructose, glucose, as well as phosphorus, iron, carotene, vitamin C, and other essential nutrients required by the human body, giving it high edible value. It also has significant medicinal value. According to *Compendium of Materia Medica*, it can moisten the lungs and cool the heart, eliminate phlegm and reduce fire, and treat sores and detoxify. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that pears are sweet and cold in nature and have effects such as moistening the lungs, clearing the heart, stopping coughs, eliminating phlegm, treating lung heat, removing excessive internal heat, and treating alcohol poisoning, as well as symptoms like shortness of breath and chest tightness. They can also be used to treat common colds, bronchitis, coughing, thirst, hoarseness, and constipation.
Product Characteristics
The Yellow Pears grown in Jianning are large with a small core, achieving an edible rate of 87.83%. Individual fruits weigh over 200 grams, with the largest reaching up to 500 grams. The fruit is cone-shaped, with a smooth, brownish-yellow skin, white flesh, fine and crisp texture, abundant juice, sweet taste, and a rich aroma. They are of top quality and have good storage properties. Their ripening period is from late July to early August, making them a perfect fruit for beating the summer heat.
History and Folk Customs
In the 1980s, Jianning County vigorously carried out comprehensive agricultural development and promoted courtyard economies, extensively planting Yellow Pears throughout the county. The beauty of Jianning in early spring matches the ancient poem “Suddenly, as if overnight, a spring breeze comes, and thousands upon thousands of pear trees are in bloom.” By mid-summer, fields and mountains are covered with Yellow Pears hanging from the branches. From townships and villages to streets and markets, people are busy picking, transporting, eating, and talking about pears. Vehicles come from all directions to purchase Yellow Pears in Jianning, and every corner is filled with their sweet fragrance and the laughter of a bountiful harvest.
In 2012, the Yellow Pear plantation area in Jianning County covered more than 8,000 hectares, mainly consisting of the Yellow Flower variety, complemented by others such as Emerald Crown and Fragrant. The annual output reached 75,000 tons, with an annual value of 150 million yuan.
As its reputation grew, many places recognized the “Jianning Yellow Pear,” and the product was supplied not only to regions such as Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong but also exported to places like Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore. Today, the Yellow Pear has become a pillar industry for developing regional economies and increasing farmers' incomes in Jianning.
Awards and Honors for Jianning Yellow Pear
In 2002, “Jianning Yellow Pear” won the title of Famous Agricultural Product of Fujian Province; the following year, it received both the Fujian Province Pollution-Free Agricultural Product and National Pollution-Free Agricultural Product titles. In 2005, Jianning became a leading county in China's pear industry. In 2006, Jianning was awarded the title of “China's Yellow Pear Capital” by the State Forestry Administration, becoming the largest production base for Yellow Pears in Fujian Province. In July 2012, Jianning Yellow Pear was officially approved by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine as a protected geographical indication product, with its production area covering the current administrative region of Jianning County, Fujian Province.