We’ve seen Buddha toast, Dalai lattes (see below), and now we’re featuring Buddha pears!
This form of bonsai fruit manipulation is created by encasing young pears in plastic molds shaped like kneeling, praying Buddhas with eyes closed. As the pears grow, they’re restricted by the frame around them, forcing them to take on the shape of the spiritual leader.
The Buddha pears were invented by a Chinese farmer, Gao Xianzhang, who has already grown 10,000 of these spiritual fruits which he plans on selling in Europe and the UK.
While the face on the Buddha pears appears peaceful and enlightened, these modified fruits put a slight knot in my stomach. I’d already feel guilty messing with nature, but then putting a Buddhist spin on it just seems wrong. Am I crazy?
Buddha Pears
Spiritual Fruit Shapes Made With Formed Plastic Casings
Trend Themes
1. Spiritual Fruit Manipulation - The trend of shaping fruit into spiritual forms using plastic molds for aesthetic purposes can open up new markets and opportunities for unique fruit offerings.
2. Cultural Appropriation in Food - Increasing awareness of cultural appropriation in food can lead to disruptive innovation opportunities for companies to create culturally respectful and meaningful food products.
3. Ethical Consumerism - The trend towards ethical consumerism calls for opportunities in the creation of products that preserve the integrity of nature and cultural values.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Agriculture - Producers and distributors of fruits can explore the market for unique fruit shapes to meet the growing demand for aesthetically pleasing food products.
2. Cultural Tourism - The trend in cultural tourism provides an opportunity for countries like China to showcase their cultural heritage and promote their unique food offerings.
3. Sustainable Agriculture - There is an opportunity for sustainable agriculture practices that are mindful of cultural values and ecological integrity in the production of food products.