TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taichung Dongshih District Police Department on Thursday launched an initiative to protect pear orchards during the harvest season, which spans from June through July.
The program comes as the market value of grafted pears has surged to NT$120 (US$4) per 600 grams, driven in part by global warming, which has made grafting more difficult, per UDN. To address concerns about potential theft, police have set up an incident-reporting group on the Line messaging platform, bringing together farmers and local village chiefs.
Officers are also sharing theft prevention techniques with growers, including the use of guard dogs, motion-sensor lighting, alarm systems, and surveillance cameras. Additionally, the police will monitor individuals deemed at higher risk of committing theft, particularly those with past criminal or drug-related convictions.
Dongshih Maopu Police Station Chief Hung Kuan-wei (洪冠崴) said the department will allocate more resources for patrols to ensure farmers can reap the rewards of their labor without interference, per CNA.
Taichung, especially Dongshih, Shigang, Xinshe, and Heping districts, is a key pear-producing region in Taiwan, per Commercial Times. The area has faced multiple challenges this year, including unusually cold weather in January and February and a pear rust outbreak in March and April.
Local officials have urged the Taichung City Government to remove dragon juniper trees, which can host the pear rust fungus. When infected, these trees can spread the disease to pear orchards within a 1- to 5-square-kilometer radius, posing a serious threat to crop health.
Even so, Dongshih’s pear industry thrives thanks to its innovative cultivation methods. The district is particularly known for its grafting techniques, which allow farmers to grow temperate fruits in Taiwan’s subtropical climate.
Four-time Taichung City pear grafting champion Huang Cheng-chien (黃正乾) explained that after imported pear buds are grafted onto local rootstocks, it takes about 200 days for the fruit to mature, per ETtoday.
To protect the fruit, pears are double-wrapped to prevent sunburn. Huang added that harvesting begins from the top of the tree, as pears growing lower receive less sunlight and need more time to ripen.
Dongshih District official Yeh Ta-wei (葉大衛) said pears are refrigerated for two to three days after harvesting to enhance their color, texture, and flavor. Damaged or overripe fruits are sorted out before packaging.
Before shipping, machines are used to select only the sweetest pears, ensuring that only the highest-quality fruit reaches consumers.
