Tetsuya Hashimoto, a pear grower in Shiroi, Chiba Prefecture, has decided to reduce cultivation of the Niitaka pear variety due to three consecutive years of poor harvests caused by intense summer heat. The heat has led to blackened skin, softened flesh, and rotting fruit. This year, over 90% of Hashimoto's pears were unharvestable.
Japan's pear production has significantly declined, with planted areas and harvest volumes dropping by 20% and 30%, respectively, over the past decade. The decline is attributed to an aging farming population, global warming, and increasing vulnerability of autumn pear varieties like Niitaka to high temperatures. Many pear farmers are over 65, and the number of farmers has dropped nearly 40% in the last decade.
In response to the changing climate, researchers at Tottori University are cross-breeding Japanese pears with Taiwanese varieties to develop heat-resistant pears. However, these new varieties take years to mature.
Other fruits are also affected. In Nagano Prefecture, the Queen Rouge grape variety has struggled to develop its red color due to high night-time temperatures, though the sweetness remains intact. However, commercial shipments are restricted, and many of the grapes are used for jams and jellies. Similar issues are affecting other red grape varieties as well.
Source: www.asahi.com