pau305942 ： Chinese farmer branches out by growing baby-shaped pears

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• Chinese farmer branches out by growing baby-shaped pears (2009-08-30)
  
• A Chinese farmer has invented baby-shaped pears and he is planning to export his novel idea. Gao Xianzhang has created 10,000 of the mini marvels this season and he plans to take the fruits of his labour to the UK and Europe. Gao spent six years perfecting the intricate baby-shaped pears, carefully crafting each one which grows inside an individual mould. Despite each pear costs 5 pounds, locals in his home village in northern Chinese province of Hebei, have reportedly been snapping them up. People seem to think they are cute or lucky and will buy them as soon as they are off the tree, said Gao. Luckily for Gao, he should have few problems getting his quirky shaped fruits past EU officials. In July, wonky shaped fruit and vegetables such as curvy cucumbers and knobbly carrots returned to supermarket shelves after EU rules restricting the size and shape of 36 types of fruit and vegetables.    Photo by Imaginechina