Hanyuan Snow Pear

Hanyuan Snow Pear

Hanyuan Snow Pear is a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Hanyuan Snow Pear is produced in Hanyuan County, Ya'an City, Sichuan Province. Hanyuan County, anciently known as "Lizhou," has long been famed as the "Land of Pears." According to *Daduhe Sub-regional Chronicles: Miscellaneous Records*, “To the east of the small hall within the Lizhou Pacification Commission, there stands a pear tree nine zhang tall with a girth of nine chi. The state grafted branches from it to bear fruit... calling it the ‘Sanzang Pear.’” This indicates that pear cultivation in Hanyuan has a history of over six hundred years. Additionally, the *Qingxi County Annals* (compiled in the Jiaqing era) states: “Plums, apricots, peaches, oranges, pomelos... all are grown here. But chestnuts, pears, and walnuts surpass those from other regions. The chestnuts are small but solid, the walnuts have thick, sweet flesh, and there is a kind of pear that ripens only after frost, bright red and lovely to behold.” The *Hanyuan County Annals* (Republic of China edition) notes: “Pears are widely grown in Hanyuan, with many varieties. The white pear (snow pear), produced in abundance, is the finest.” The *Hanyuan County Annals* (1994 edition) records: “Among all fruits in Hanyuan, pears rank first in yield. ‘Hanyuan Snow Pear’ is famous both within and outside the province. From 1961 to 1962, it was even exported to the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries under national organization.” In summary, Hanyuan Snow Pear not only has a long history but also boasts superior quality and widespread fame. Hanyuan County is known as the “Home of Fruits,” and the snow pear, as a local specialty, enjoys renown across the province and beyond for its excellent quality and high production. Hanyuan Snow Pear is highly regarded for its attractive shape, bright color, snow-white flesh, honey-like sweetness, delicate texture, and seedless core. It has long been marketed in Chengdu-Chongqing and Leshan. In 1949, the county had only around 20,000 pear trees, yielding just over 42,500 jin annually. After the founding of the People’s Republic, pear cultivation expanded significantly. In 1952, a fruit tree workstation was established to expand growing regions and breed improved varieties. At the 1981 National Fruit Tree Work Conference, Hanyuan Snow Pear was rated first in appearance nationwide and fifth in the provincial pear competition in 1984. By the mid-1980s, the county had over 410,000 pear trees, producing 13.46 million jin annually. Snow pear, together with Golden Flower Pear, was hailed as the “Twin Jewels” of Hanyuan pears, “Golden Flowers and Snow Pears soaring together, orchards and blue skies blending as one.” In 2005, Hanyuan Snow Pear covered a planting area of 30,000 mu, yielding 30,000 tons with an annual output value of 21 million yuan. To promote the sustained and rapid development of the county’s fruit industry, with pears as the focus, the county government has accelerated adjustments to the agricultural industrial structure, creating high-quality, high-yield, and safe production bases. It actively collaborates with teaching and research institutions such as Sichuan Agricultural University and the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences to complete the registration of Hanyuan Snow Pear as a geographical indication for agricultural products and certification under the “Three Products” (organic, green, and pollution-free) system. Currently, Hanyuan Snow Pear is advancing toward industrialization, scale, and intensification, becoming one of the key pillar industries for local farmers to increase income and achieve prosperity.

　　Hanyuan Snow Pear is large in size, beautifully colored, fragrant, with snow-white, tender, and juicy flesh that melts in the mouth. It is widely sold in Chengdu-Chongqing, Leshan, Xichang, and Kangding. In recent years, Hanyuan County has placed great emphasis on the development of Hanyuan Snow Pear. Currently, the county’s pear tree planting area has reached over 200,000 mu, the vast majority of which are Hanyuan Snow Pears.

　　Currently, Golden Flower Pear has emerged as a rising star among Hanyuan pears, ranking first in the province's fruit evaluation and comparison conference in 1984.

　　Geographic Indication Area

　　Hanyuan Snow Pear is produced in Hanyuan County, Ya'an City, Sichuan Province. The protected area for the geographical indication of the agricultural product includes 11 towns (townships) within Hanyuan County: Jiuxiang, Fuzhuang, Liyuan, Datian, Tangjia, Yidong, Lianghe, Faxiang, Dalin, Qianyu, and Xixi. The geographical coordinates are between 102°16′–103°00′ east longitude and 29°05′–29°43′ north latitude. It borders Jinkouhe District and Hongya County to the east, connects to Ganluo County to the south, neighbors Luding County and Shimian County to the west, and adjoins Yingjing County to the north. The protected area spans 15,000 mu with an annual yield of 30,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) **External Sensory Quality:** Hanyuan Snow Pear is large in size, typically inverted-oval in shape. Its skin is greenish-yellow, smooth, and waxy, with small, dense brown lenticels. The fruit stem is long, with a narrow stem cavity surrounded by brown rust spots. The calyx may be shed or persistent, with a shallow calyx cavity. The flesh is white, with a small core, fine and crisp texture, few stone cells, abundant juice, sweet taste, and pleasant aroma. It is of premium quality. (2) **Internal Quality Indicators:** Hanyuan Snow Pear contains ≥10% soluble solids, ≥6.3% total sugar, and ≥82% edible rate. (3) **Safety Requirements:** Hanyuan Snow Pear meets the quality standards outlined in *Pollution-Free Fruit—Pome Fruits* (NY5322-2006).