Liucun Crisp Pears

Liucun Crisp Pears

Liucun Crisp Pears are a protected geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Liucun Crisp Pears are a specialty of Chaihedian Town, Tengzhou City, Zaozhuang, Shandong Province. These pears are known for their large size, thin skin, crisp and tender flesh, thick meat, juicy and residue-free texture, sweet and pleasant taste, as well as their light yellow, crystal-clear, and delicate appearance. They have long been hailed as the “King of Pears.” Liucun Crisp Pears are a nationally protected geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Chaihedian Town, located in the southeastern part of Tengzhou City, Shandong Province, is widely renowned as the “Hometown of Yellow Pears.” The area boasts beautiful mountains and pleasant scenery: the undulating Qianshan mountain ridges rise majestically like coiled dragons and crouching tigers on the eastern side of this magical land; the serpentine Xue River, with its crystal-clear waters, embraces the renowned Liucun Pear Orchard, which spans ten thousand mu in the central region. Established in the third year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty (1370), the Liucun Pear Orchard was documented in the Ming Dynasty’s Teng County Annals (1573) as having pear blossoms that were “as silvery as blooming flowers.” The late Ming poet Li Liufang also left behind the poetic lines: “The mountains part the clouds, willows stir in the breeze; white pear blossoms and pink peach blooms grace the view. On the official road at Sancha in the third month, riding a lame horse feels like a dream.” Among all pears, Liucun Crisp Pears are considered top-quality, and during the Ming and Qing dynasties, they were served as tribute to the imperial court.

　　Liucun Crisp Pears are large in size, thin-skinned, crisp and juicy, with thick, residue-free flesh and a sweet, refreshing taste. These pears are rich in nutrients, containing various beneficial elements such as calcium, iron, and zinc. Eating them can quench thirst, clear internal heat, moisten the lungs, relieve coughs, dissolve phlegm, and promote health and wellness. In 2009, Liucun Crisp Pears were designated as the official product for the 11th National Games of China.

　　Protected Geographical Indication Area for “Liucun Crisp Pears”

　　Geographical Scope

　　Tengzhou City is located in the southwestern part of Shandong Province, at the center of the Huaihai Economic Zone where Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, and Anhui provinces meet. It governs 17 towns, 4 subdistrict offices, and 1,226 administrative villages, with a total population of 1.56 million, including 1.288 million agricultural residents. The city covers a total land area of 1,485 square kilometers, with 1.12 million mu of arable land. It stretches 45 kilometers from east to west and 46 kilometers from north to south, with terrain sloping from the northeast to the southwest. Chaihedian Town in the southern part of Tengzhou City comprises 41 administrative villages, with geographical coordinates between 117°11′ to 117°19′ east longitude and 34°51′ to 34°54′ north latitude. The average elevation is 38.5 meters, with a total production area of 666.7 hectares and an annual output of 24,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: Through long-term cultivation and natural selection, Liucun Crisp Pears have developed unique product characteristics. The primary variety is “Liucun Crisp Pear,” which produces large fruit with thin skin, crisp and tender flesh, thick meat, juice-rich texture, no residue, and a sweet, refreshing taste. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Liucun Crisp Pears are highly nutritious, with soluble solids content ≥11.5%, total sugar ≥8.0%, total acid ≤0.2%, calcium ≥5.0 mg/100g, iron ≥3.0 mg/kg, zinc ≥0.25 mg/kg, and are also rich in phosphorus and other beneficial trace elements. 3. Safety Requirements: Standards for air quality, irrigation water, surface water, and pesticide use follow GB3095—1996 Ambient Air Quality Standard, GB5084—1992 Farmland Irrigation Water Quality Standard, GB3838—1988 National Surface Water Quality Standard, and GB4285—1989 Safe Use of Pesticides Standard. These standards apply in their current form unless revised; in case of revision, the latest national standards shall be followed.