Pears are one of the fruits with the longest history of feeding and utilization in China, and enjoy the reputation of "the sect of 100 fruits". From ancient times to the present day, it has held a transcendent position in the fruit world. Pears are divided into two categories, one is the "Oriental pear" native to China, also known as the "Asian pear";The second is the American pear, which is native to the Caucasus region of Europe. Although Western pears are very popular in European and American countries, in China's fruit market, unlike other "foreign fruits", its situation has been tepid.
Both the Western pear and the Oriental pear belong to the genus Rosaceae, and although they are botanically classified as two distinct species, they share a common ancestor.
Pear plants originated in southwest China at the earliest, and have been distributed in southwest China at least in the Tertiary period. Subsequently, the original population of pears began to migrate outward, diverging into the ancestors of Oriental and Western pears. Scientists have found that the time for the differentiation of these two main species of pear plants is about 6 years ago6 to 33 million years ago.
In the early historical process, the situation of Western pears in Europe and Oriental pears in China was very different. For a long history of feeding and utilization, pears were not considered a fruit until the 16th century because the fruit was very hard when ripe and needed to be steamed before it could be eaten. It was not until after the 16th century that varieties similar to modern pears began to appear, and became a fruit in the true sense of the word, spreading widely.
Although the pear originated in Europe, the earliest varieties introduced in China were introduced from the United States. Nowadays, American pears have become an important part of the world's pear fruits, and are loved by consumers in European and American countries, and China has also begun to import Western pears on a large scale.
There is a big difference in appearance between Western pears and Oriental pears native to China. Domestic pears are generally oval or oval, relatively "round", and the color is mainly yellow-green or greenOn the other hand, the "elongated" shape of the pear has the appearance of a "big belly with a handle", and early Chinese consumers jokingly called it "banana pear", and the color is divided into green, yellow-green and red.
In addition to the type, they also have significant differences in texture and taste. Chinese pears are characterized by crispness, sweet taste, and rich juice, while the flesh of Western pears is very hard and low in sweetness for a period of time after harvesting, so it needs to be left for a period of time, and the best time to eat is when the flesh becomes soft. This is related to the fact that the pear is a respiration leap fruit, and its fruit ripening is affected by ethylene, but the secretion of endogenous ethylene is not activated before harvest, and a large amount of ethylene is secreted after harvest, which softens the flesh and presents a sweet taste.
Objectively, Western pears have their unique fruit shape and taste, but they have been difficult to become popular in the domestic market. There are several reasons for this:
Chinese consumers are Xi to the crispness, sweetness and juiciness of domestic pears, and they are less receptive to Western pears that need to wait for the flesh to soften. Under the influence of the long history of Oriental pears, Chinese consumers are more inclined to harvest and eat ready-to-eat fruits.
The promotion of American pears is not enough. Although it has a history of more than 100 years in China, it emphasizes its health and nutrition when promoting and publicizing, but fails to popularize the basic eating methods. Many consumers eat it directly when they taste it for the first time, and the impression of being hard and not sweet is unacceptable.
In the domestic market, the volume of oriental pears is huge, and the production of Western pears in China is relatively small, resulting in its relative inconspicuousness.
Although the pear has not been able to make its mark in the domestic market, I think it still has some potential for development. First of all, it has a unique appearance and taste, and is expected to stand out in the huge oriental pear market. Secondly, through cross-breeding with oriental pears, the structure of China's pear fruit planting industry can be changed and the development of the entire pear industry can be promoted.
It is important to note that "promising development" does not necessarily mean that you will be able to make a profit blindly. Among the friends I know who are engaged in domestic pear cultivation, the profits and losses are mixed, so you need to be cautious when developing your planting business. Western pears may also need more science popularization and promotion, so that more consumers can understand and accept this unique fruit.
Under the influence of the thousand-year-old history of oriental pears, Western pears have not been able to usher in the popularity of the Chinese market as expected. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't have a chance to change the status quo. With the growing demand for a variety of flavors, pears may be at a turning point. Its unique appearance and taste are expected to set off a new pear trend in the hearts of Chinese consumers.
In the future, with the continuous development of science and technology and agriculture, we may be able to expect more Western pear varieties with high yield and high-quality taste to take root and sprout on the soil of our country. At the same time, through the ingenious combination with oriental pears, it may be possible to cultivate new varieties that are more suitable for the taste of the domestic market, and build a bridge between the flavors of the East and the West.
In this era of pears, we expect that Western pears will no longer be synonymous with "not being popular", but will be able to find their place in the Chinese fruit market. Pears, no matter what, have a unique charm, and we look forward to the future pear story in the blend of Chinese and Western cultures to continue to deduce a new chapter.