Hailstorms hit several regions in Shaanxi and Sichuan yesterday, with hail stones as big as chicken's eggs at some places. The storm raged a few hours and several crops, such as kiwis and pears, suffered severe damage. A kiwi grower from Sichuan province explained that the hail struck Cangxi and Shifang, two counties that are famous for kiwi and pear cultivation. Shifang especially is known for its snow pears and red-hearted kiwis and is called 'the capital of pears' in every day speech. The kiwi trees already bear fruit at this time of year. The harvest is planned for August, and the hailstorms yesterday have damaged a considerably part of the new crop. Losses are estimated at 20%.

The one good think according to the grower is that the hail storm did not last too long. The area and degree of damage are still manageable. At the same time, other kiwi production regions in Sichuan, like Pujiang, did not suffer any hailstorms so far. The kiwis grow very well and harvest should start after two months.