Bailizhou Sand Pear

Bailizhou Sand Pear

Bailizhou Sand Pear is a geographical indication protected product.

Bailizhou Sand Pear is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Bailizhou Sand Pear is an agricultural product geographical indication.

　　The high-quality sand pear base in Zhijiang is located in a sandy soil area formed by the Yangtze River alluvium. The fruits produced here are large, crisp, juicy, and sweet, and have been named one of "Hubei’s Top Ten Famous Fruits" by the Hubei Provincial Department of Agriculture. They have been popular in more than ten provinces and cities across China. Bailizhou Town has a 100,000-mu high-quality sand pear base, with 50,000 mu currently under production and an annual yield of over 80,000 tons. Bailizhou Sand Pear has been recommended and named "China’s Hometown of Sand Pears" by the Organizing Committee of the China Special Local Products Promotion Campaign, and the base’s products are registered under the "Bailizhou Brand" trademark. The main varieties of Bailizhou Sand Pear include "Huanghua" and "Xiangnan." (Zhijiang)

　　Bailizhou, a traditional agricultural town in Zhijiang City, Hubei Province, is also the concentrated production base of Bailizhou Sand Pear. These pears are highly nutritious, entirely natural, and free from harmful pesticide residues, making them one of the favorite fruits among consumers.

　　As a traditional agricultural town, Bailizhou Town currently has 207,000 mu of agricultural resources. The terrain on the island is flat, the land is fertile, there is no industrial pollution, and the climate is mild, making it a rare treasure for developing modern agriculture. In recent years, the town has focused on developing five major agricultural economic sectors: cotton, fruit, hogs, vegetables, and aquatic products, initially forming a pattern of "growing fruit in upper Bailizhou, planting cotton in lower Bailizhou, developing aquatic products in low-lying lake areas, and building home gardens in every household." It has been successively honored as "China’s Hometown of Sand Pears," "Hubei Province’s High-Quality Cotton Base," and "Hubei Province’s Ecological Agriculture Base." Bailizhou Sand Pear has been recognized as one of "China’s Top Ten Famous Brand Fruits," an Hubei Provincial Famous Product at the China International Agricultural Expo, and an Outstanding Product of China’s Spark Program. It has also passed national geographical trademark registration and certification.

　　"Raw pears clear heat from the internal organs, while ripe pears nourish the yin of the five viscera." The nutritional components of Bailizhou Sand Pear include proteins, fats, carbohydrates (sugars), vitamin C, thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin PP), malic acid, citric acid, fructose, sucrose, glucose, and other organic compounds; they also contain inorganic elements such as potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, selenium, iron, and manganese, as well as dietary fiber.

　　Raw pears reduce internal heat, while ripe pears nourish yin. Pears are cool in nature and sweet in taste, juicy and refreshing. Eating them leaves a cool sensation in the mouth, helps relieve fever symptoms, quenches thirst, promotes saliva production, clears the heart and moistens the throat, reduces internal heat and alleviates summer heat, nourishes the lungs, relieves coughing, and reduces phlegm. They are effective against colds, coughs, and acute and chronic bronchitis. Additionally, pears help lower blood pressure and calm the mind. They also benefit hepatitis patients by protecting the liver, aiding digestion, and increasing appetite.

　　Bailizhou pears are named one of "Hubei’s Top Ten Famous Fruits" by the Hubei Provincial Department of Agriculture for their large size, crisp texture, juiciness, and sweetness. In 1998, renowned experts and professors from both China and abroad improved the Bailizhou Sand Pear based on the unique soil, climate, and other natural geographical conditions of Bailizhou. They adopted new bud-grafting techniques and implemented bagging production processes. Bagging production avoids the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, ensuring the "green" and natural quality of the products. The improved sand pears are golden in color, fist-sized, as crisp as water chestnuts, and as sweet as honey, with each single fruit weighing over 400 grams, and are hailed as "a unique wonder of the Three Gorges."

　　Bailizhou Town in Zhijiang City is located at the upper reaches of the Jingjiang section of the middle Yangtze River, surrounded by river water on all sides. To the east, it overlooks the land of Chu; to the west, it extends to the gorges of the river; to the south, it is connected by water to Songzi City; and to the north, it faces the urban area of Zhijiang across the river. It is the largest river island in the Yangtze River, covering an area of 212 square kilometers.

　　Bailizhou enjoys unique climatic conditions and a geographical location. It has abundant sunshine, rich water resources, a mild climate, a long frost-free period, with an average temperature of 16°C–18°C, average sunshine duration of 2,145 hours, annual precipitation of about 1,200 mm, and a frost-free period of over 270 days. It is the best production area for pollution-free Bailizhou pears. The land of the Bailizhou Pear Base is fertile, with sandy loam soil type and a pH value of 6.5–7.5. The terrain is flat, with an average altitude of less than 100 meters. The climate is mild, with distinct seasons and ample sunlight, providing excellent ecological conditions for producing pollution-free "Bailizhou Pears."

　　Bailizhou Sand Pear

　　The current administrative region of Bailizhou Town, Zhijiang City, Hubei Province

　　"Letter from the People’s Government of Zhijiang City on Defining the Geographical Indication Product Protection Scope of Bailizhou Sand Pear," Zhifeng Letter [2013] No. 12

　　Enterprise Standard of the Comprehensive Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Service Department of Bailizhou Town, Zhijiang City: Q/ZBL0001S-2013 "Bailizhou Sand Pear"

　　Geographic Scope

　　The main production area of "Bailizhou Sand Pear"—Bailizhou Town, Zhijiang City, Hubei Province—is located in the central-western part of Hubei Province, in the upper reaches of the middle Yangtze River, at the upper section of the Jingjiang area of the Yangtze River. It is surrounded by river water on all sides, looks east toward the land of Chu, extends west to the gorges of the river, connects via water to the south with Songzi City, and faces the urban area of Zhijiang across the river to the north. It is the largest river island in the Yangtze River, covering an area of 212 square kilometers, with coordinates between 111°37'4.5"–111°56'25" east longitude and 30°16'47"–30°25'03" north latitude. The suitable planting area for Bailizhou Sand Pear includes 41 administrative villages in Bailizhou Town, covering an area of 100,000 mu. Currently, 30,000 mu are under production, with an annual yield of 60,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: The main cultivar, Round Yellow Pear, is large, regularly shaped, bright yellow, and matures early. Golden Pear has a golden-yellow, crystal-clear skin, is large with a small core. Fukuhara Pear is emerald green, large, high-quality, and beautiful, and is known as the "Crystal Pear." Bailizhou Sand Pears have an average single fruit weight of over 200 grams, thin skin, small lenticels, snow-white and fine yet crisp flesh, juicy with little core, few stone cells, sweet and fragrant taste, unique flavor, and excellent quality. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Bailizhou Sand Pears are rich in fructose, glucose, malic acid, and organic acids, with total sugar content exceeding 5.0%, total acid content of 0.11%–0.14%, and soluble solids content of over 12%. 3. Quality and Safety Regulations: The production environment quality of Bailizhou Sand Pears meets the requirements of the "Agricultural Product Safety Quality – Environmental Requirements for Pollution-Free Fruit Production Areas" (GB/T 18407.2-2001). The product quality and safety meet the "Agricultural Product Safety Quality – Safety Requirements for Pollution-Free Fruits" (GB18406.2-2001). During production, agricultural inputs are used rationally, and the use of highly toxic pesticides banned by the state is strictly prohibited. The use of pesticides and fertilizers during production must comply with the "Fertilizer Use Guidelines for Pollution-Free Pears" (NY/T496-2002) and the "Pesticide Use Guidelines for Pollution-Free Foods" (NY/T5018-2001). The pesticide safety interval must be strictly enforced, and products can only be marketed after passing pesticide residue testing.