Mid-Autumn Gifts Are More Than Just a Box of Pears! Shuang Lian Pear’s 10-Year Mission to Save Rural Schools and Keep Zhuolan’s Children at Home

When Mid-Autumn Festival gifts are eaten and boxes stored away, one box of pears continues to shine light into remote classrooms. Rooted in Zhuolan, Miaoli, the social enterprise Shuang Lian Pear celebrates its 10th anniversary—transforming from selling large pears to saving small schools, turning the sweet taste of Zhuolan pears into long-term action supporting rural education, eco-friendly farming, and youth returning home.

One box of pears saved an entire school. Student numbers rose from 29 to 42.

Ten years ago, Shuang Lian Elementary School faced closure due to declining birthrates and population outflow. If the school disappeared, mountain children would have to travel about 7 kilometers to attend classes, forcing parents into daily commutes and potentially driving more families to leave their hometown.

In 2016, with assistance from Professor Li Ming-Yan of Chung Yuan Christian University, Shuang Lian Pear established branding and market channels, freeing Zhuolan pears from dependence on wholesale pricing. A portion of profits was reinvested into local education. By 2017, Shuang Lian Elementary avoided closure, and student enrollment grew from 29 to 42—with over 80% coming from Zhuolan Township and surrounding areas.

Transport vehicles traveled over 28,000 kilometers. Each trip carries not just children, but the future of their hometown.

Over 10 years, Shuang Lian Pear has supported school transportation for rural students, accumulating approximately 28,000 kilometers, around 4,000 trips, carrying over 100,000 student rides, and continuously supporting more than 360 students.

A morning bus ride may seem like simply delivering children to school—but behind it lies the possibility of keeping families rooted in their hometown. As long as children can safely attend school, rural classrooms won’t easily go dark, and villages will continue to echo with children’s laughter.

Not relying on one-time donations. Sustainable agriculture turns goodwill into systems.

Shuang Lian Pear doesn’t just help farmers sell fruit—it supports them across production management, food safety, branding, distribution, and income security, helping transform traditional farming models. Over 10 years, it has facilitated fair trade of approximately 250,000 Taiwanese catties of pears and assisted farmers in adopting traceability systems, establishing production and pesticide usage records.

Partner orchards avoid herbicides, gradually reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, promote organic compost, recycle cardboard boxes, and reuse circular materials. The team also develops fresh produce, processed goods, and local gift sets aligned with Zhuolan’s seasonal harvests, reducing risks from overdependence on single crops.

Corporate gifting can advance ESG goals. Every purchase helps keep hope alive in rural communities.

As companies prioritize ESG and supply chain responsibility, Shuang Lian Pear invites businesses to turn Mid-Autumn procurement into responsible consumption—results that serve as sustainability content for social inclusion, local sourcing, and environmental action. The team has also hosted corporate volunteers, farm experience days, and local service programs, bringing employees directly into the production area.

Shuang Lian Pear received recognition at the 20th Goujian ESG Corporate Sustainability Awards, winning the SME Award in the Education Promotion category. The team emphasizes that true local revitalization isn’t just about creating economic value—it’s about ensuring outcomes return to farmers, education, and the next generation.

This Mid-Autumn, the box of pears a company gives contains not only a farmer’s year-long effort but also the safe path for children to attend school. Every purchase could allow Zhuolan’s fruit trees to keep bearing fruit—and keep rural classrooms brightly lit.