La France Western Pear (Yamagata)

La France (ラ・フランス) / Yamagata · Yamagata, Japan
Fresh & Specialty Fruit Chilled Growing export

La France is Japan's premier European (buttery, aromatic) pear, with Yamagata producing the overwhelming majority of the national crop. Unlike the crisp Asian nashi, it is a melting-flesh dessert pear treated as a luxury autumn gift fruit. Carefully ripened and graded, it ships chilled to premium Asian markets. Each fruit is foam-netted and tray-packed for gifting.

The supplierTypical: Yamagata pear co-ops controlling ripening windows and Brix-based grading for the national La France brand.
Why it sells abroadButtery European-style melting pear with intense aroma — distinct from crisp Asian pears and positioned as a luxury autumn gift.

Buyer's brief ✓ SOURCES VERIFIED

CertificationsPhytosanitary certificate: CONFIRMED-required per shipment for fresh pear export (MAFF). JGAP at participating farms: NOT publicly verified. La France is Yamagata's signature western-pear variety (post-ripening fruit); no producer-level food-safety cert confirmed.
Pack formats3kg / 5kg gift boxes, foam-netted with cushion trays. (draft retained)
Shelf life2-3 weeks chilled (post-ripening); longer in controlled cold storage pre-ripening. (draft retained)
StorageCold storage pre-ripening; chilled in distribution; ripen at ambient before eating; cold-chain.
Minimum orderTypical: 50-100 boxes
Lead timeTypical: 1-2 weeks
CapacityHarvest Oct-Nov, marketed Oct-Dec
Container loadTypical: LCL reefer
PricingTypical: priced as premium dessert pear above Asian nashi
OEM / private labelGift-box private branding via exporter stated; no producer-level private-label program publicly verified.
Wholesale & MOQTypical: JPY 4,000-9,000 per 3-5kg gift box FOB
Key exporters & distributorsJA Zen-Noh export desk, Yamagata prefectural exporters
Export regulationJapanese pears (Pyrus) ship to TW, HK, SG, TH under pear phytosanitary access with import permit + MAFF phyto cert; TW requires cold-treatment/registered-orchard protocol. EU/US fresh access not generally open.
Market demandTypical: niche but growing premium demand in Taiwan/Hong Kong
How to source itYamagata JA co-ops (e.g. JA Higashine, JA Tendo) -> prefectural export desk -> premium importer. Phytosanitary certificate per shipment. (draft retained)
Verified sourceshttps://www.maff.go.jp/pps/j/introduction/english_exp.html
MakerJA Yamagata co-ops (e.g. JA Higashine, JA Tendo)
OriginYamagata, Japan
CategoryFresh & Specialty / Fruit
Available inTW, HK, SG, TH
HandlingChilled
Price tierPremium
ChannelPremium/Gift
Export readinessGrowing export
HS code0808.30
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Profile maintained by Japonity (japonity.com), May 2026. General sourcing information only — confirm current availability, pricing, MOQ and the destination market's import rules with the maker or exporter before contracting. Japonity is not affiliated with this brand.