Korla fragrant pears from the 29th Regiment of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps

Korla fragrant pears from the 29th Regiment of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps

　　The 29th Regiment of the Second Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps is located on the northeastern edge of the Taklamakan Desert and at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. It is the original home of the famous Korla fragrant pear and also the main horticultural regiment of the Second Division. In the early days of its establishment in 1956, when Chinese and Soviet experts were planning the farm, they proposed leveraging the advantages of the local natural environment to develop an orchard. In 1986, preparations began for the development of a 50,000-mu commercial fragrant pear production base. By 1996, the pear cultivation area had reached 27,000 mu, with total output surpassing 10,000 tons. To date, the pear cultivation area has stabilized at 60,000 mu, with an annual output of 34,000 tons. The climate within the 29th Regiment's fragrant pear production area is a warm temperate continental one, characterized by abundant light and heat resources, high accumulated temperature, dry conditions with little rainfall, scarce precipitation, high evaporation rates, and a long frost-free period. The soil is sandy with good permeability, low salinity, low groundwater levels, and significant day-night temperature variation. Coupled with advanced farming methods, this produces Korla fragrant pears with thin skins, fine and juicy flesh, rich sweetness and aroma, and a crisp, refreshing taste. The pears have a high calyx detachment rate of over 78.6%, and upon ripening, they can be crushed to a pulp upon falling to the ground. Their cores are small, leaving a pleasantly crisp, residue-free texture after eating. These pears are highly resistant to storage and transportation—storable in cellars until April of the following year, and in controlled-atmosphere storage until the end of June the next year while still remaining green. Moreover, they are rich in nutrients such as total sugar and vitamin C, and are internationally acclaimed as the “jewel among pears” and the “prince of fruits.” Currently, the 29th Regiment’s Korla fragrant pears have been certified as Green Food and Organic Food. In 2008, they received the “Second Prize for Olympic Recommended Fruits in Beijing” and the honor of “China Famous Brand Agricultural Product.” In 2009, they won the Gold Award at the 7th China International Products Fair.

　　III. Geographic Scope

　　The production area of Korla fragrant pears from the 29th Regiment of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps is situated on the northeastern edge of the Taklamakan Desert and at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, on the alluvial–proluvial fan plain known to the Uyghur people as “Wuwa.” Its geographical coordinates are longitude 85°32′ to 85°47′ east and latitude 41°37′ to 41°51′ north, with an altitude of 910 to 930 meters. The regimental headquarters is 50 kilometers from Korla City. To the north of the regiment, the Wu-Ka Highway and the Southern Xinjiang Railway run from east to west. The cultivated area stretches 29.5 kilometers from east to west and 15.2 kilometers from north to south. The protected geographic area includes 29 Korla pear cultivation units of the 29th Regiment of the Second Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Among these, there are 12 horticultural units (Garden Company 1, Garden Company 2, Garden Company 3, Garden Company 4, Garden Company 5, Garden Company 7, Garden Company 9, Garden Company 10, Garden Company 11, Garden Company 12, Garden Company 13, Garden Company 14) and 17 agricultural units (Company 1, Company 2, Company 3, Company 4, Company 5, Company 6, Company 7, Company 8, Company 9, Company 10, Company 11, Company 13, Company 14, Company 16, Company 17, Company 19, Company 20), covering a total area of 4,000 hectares with an annual output of 34,000 tons.

　　IV. Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: The rice grains are uniform and neatly shaped, oval in form, crystal clear and glossy in appearance, with a bright and transparent color. The rice has an oily texture, and when cooked, the grains are soft, smooth, and firm with a fragrant and mellow quality. Leftover rice does not harden upon cooling. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: The coarse protein content is ≥5.5%; amylose content is 15–19%; gel consistency is ≥70mm; and alkali spreading value = 7.0. 3. Safety Requirements: The product meets the requirements of NY/T491, the “Green Food Rice Standard.” 4. Packaging, Labeling, and Related Regulations: During transportation, vehicles must be clean, dry, and equipped with rain protection. Transport with toxic, harmful, corrosive, or odorous materials is strictly prohibited. Storage should take place in light-proof, ambient-temperature, dry locations with moisture-proof facilities. Storage facilities must be clean, dry, well-ventilated, and free from pests and rodents. Storage with toxic, harmful, corrosive, mold-prone, damp, or odorous items is strictly prohibited.