Unearth Hidden Pear Gems! "Tabechoku National Pear Grand Prix 2026" Seeking Entrants Nationwide, Past Winners Saw Sales More Than 20x Higher

Vivid Garden Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Rina Akimoto), which operates "Tabechoku," Japan's largest direct-to-consumer e-commerce site for farm-fresh produce, boasting No. 1 rankings in nine categories including awareness and usage rate, is holding the "Tabechoku National Pear Grand Prix 2026" for pear producers nationwide. This will be the first time this "producer-focused" competition is held, taking place on August 27 (Thu) and 28 (Fri), 2026.

In this Grand Prix, professional judges will evaluate pears solely based on taste through actual tasting. The awarded pears will receive enhanced promotional support on Tabechoku to help boost producer revenue. Furthermore, by fairly evaluating and promoting a wide range of pears, from classic varieties to new ones, we aim to provide consumers with a purchasing experience that helps them discover their "must-have" favorite.

Entry is open to all pear producers nationwide, regardless of whether they are registered with Tabechoku. Entry is limited to the first 80 entries, so please apply early.

Entry Form: https://forms.gle/bPPHQ3aQ13qf4UJi8

Entry Deadline: August 4, 2026 (Tue) noon

Entry Slots: First 80 entries (up to 2 varieties per producer)

About the "Tabechoku National Pear Grand Prix 2026"

This Grand Prix is a competition for pear producers nationwide, aiming to widely communicate the "appeal" of their pears and the producers' "dedication" to the world.

Pear varieties are seeing active development of original breeds across Japan, such as "Shinkansen" and "Saigyoku." This Grand Prix seeks entries ranging from classic to new varieties, with the goal of discovering exceptionally delicious pears and producers to promote them, and to provide consumers with opportunities to find varieties that match their preferences.

Objectives of the Event

1. Create opportunities for consumers to discover "pears that suit their taste."

In the pear market, classic varieties like "Kosui" and "Housui" have long played a central role. However, in recent years, the development of unique varieties such as "Shinkansen" and "Saigyoku" has become active in various regions, steadily expanding consumer choices.

While these new varieties possess excellent quality, their name recognition and distribution volume are limited, meaning many consumers are unaware of their existence and have few opportunities to experience their appeal. This Grand Prix will fairly evaluate classic and the latest varieties based on the common metric of "taste" and widely disseminate their multifaceted charms.

We propose an unprecedented purchasing experience that allows consumers to select the perfect pear based on their individual preferences, such as "rich sweetness" or "crisp texture."

2. A system for branding and sales promotion support (with a track record of over 20x sales increase)

The results of the Tabechoku National Pear Grand Prix 2026 will be actively promoted on a special page and through email newsletters for Tabechoku registered users. In the Apple Grand Prix held in November 2025, some producers achieved sales more than 20 times higher in the month following the award compared to the same period the previous year. This initiative goes beyond mere recognition, providing branding and sales promotion support that directly leads to increased sales.

3. Support for production through feedback on judging results

Judging results will be provided as feedback to producers who request it, regardless of whether they win an award. By understanding objective taste evaluations from professionals, producers can reflect on their cultivation techniques, make improvements for the following year, and assist in variety selection.

Event Overview

Dates: August 27 (Thu) and 28 (Fri), 2026

Results Announcement Date: August 28, 2026 (Fri) evening onwards

Results will be announced on "Tabechoku."

Venue: Within Tokyo's 23 wards (details will be provided only to registered entrants)

Judging Process: A preliminary round will be held on August 27 (Thu) to select approximately the top 20 entries. On the following day, August 28 (Fri), a final round will be conducted for the selected entries.

Entry Guidelines

1. About Entry

Entry Deadline

August 4, 2026 (Tue) noon

Eligibility

Pear producers nationwide (limited to professional producers and those who grow their own pears. Registration with Tabechoku is not required.)

Number of Entries

Up to 2 varieties per producer are eligible for entry.

Entry Limit

First 80 entries (entries will close once the limit is reached)

Entry Fee

5,000 yen (tax included) per variety

Entry Form

https://forms.gle/bPPHQ3aQ13qf4UJi8

Cancellation Deadline

August 20, 2026 (Thu) noon

*Refunds will be processed if requested to the secretariat by the deadline. Please note that refunds cannot be issued after the deadline.

2. Delivery of Products for Judging

Delivery Deadline

Must arrive by August 27, 2026 (Thu) morning

Delivery Location

Designated location in Tokyo (details will be provided by the organizing secretariat)

Delivery Quantity

10 or more fruits per variety

[Notes]

* Details of the delivery location will be provided by the organizing secretariat after entry acceptance.

* Shipping costs for delivery to the competition venue will be borne by the entrant.

* Individual appeals regarding judging results cannot be accommodated.

Awards (Planned)

To evaluate diverse characteristics, awards will be given in multiple categories.

* Award names, contents, and number of winning entries are subject to change.

▼Overall Category

Best Gold Award: 1

Gold Award: 1

Silver Award: 1

Bronze Award: 1

▼Taste Category

Rich Sweetness Award: 2

Classic Balance Award: 2

Refreshing Sweetness Award: 2

▼Special Awards

Drinking Juice Award: 1

Best Crisp Award: 1

Smooth Flesh Award: 1

Next Generation Rookie Award: 3

* The Next Generation Rookie Award is for varieties registered within the last 10 years.

Post-Award Development

Enhanced Promotion on "Tabechoku"

For producers who win the Bronze Award or higher, a special feature page will be created on the Tabechoku website, and promotional activities including email newsletters will be conducted.

Priority Introduction to Corporate Collaboration Projects

When collaboration opportunities with companies outside of Tabechoku arise, award-winning producers will be given priority introduction.

Provision of Award Labels

Award-winning producers will receive "award labels" free of charge, which can be freely used on promotional materials to indicate their "win at the Tabechoku National Pear Grand Prix 2026." These can be used on product pages and packaging materials.

Past Usage Examples

Using the label as the main photo on Tabechoku product pages

Attaching to cardboard boxes during shipping

Examples of Award Label Usage (Tabechoku Product Page) Examples of Award Label Usage (Shipping Box)

* Contents are subject to change. Please understand this in advance.

Media Coverage on the Day

Media representatives wishing to cover or observe the final judging, results announcement, and award-winning pears to be held in Tokyo's 23 wards on August 28, 2026 (Fri) should apply via the link below. Detailed location and time information will be provided.

* Media Application Form: https://forms.gle/VubingRb83TM7EDEA

Content Available for Filming on the Day (Example: Scenes from past Grand Prix events)

Scene of final round entries lined up

Scene of judging in progress

Award ceremony stage (content subject to change)

About Tabechoku-Hosted Competitions

We aim to create a world where producers' dedication is fairly evaluated, holding competitions in the most suitable format for each product category.

What sets this Grand Prix apart is that it goes beyond mere awards. We provide continuous, practical support directly linked to business growth for award winners, including sales promotion support within Tabechoku, priority introductions to corporate collaborations, and provision of award labels. Our focus is on supporting the continued development of our producers even after they have won.

Past Event Records

June 2026: Tabechoku Craft Gift Grand Prix 2026

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000475.000025043.html

April 2026: Tabechoku National Asparagus Grand Prix 2026

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000464.000025043.html

February 2026: Tabechoku National Mandarin Orange & Citrus Grand Prix 2026

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000449.000025043.html

February 2026: Tabechoku Strawberry Grand Prix 2026

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000438.000025043.html

November 2025: Tabechoku Apple Grand Prix 2025

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000342.000025043.html

About Tabechoku

Tabechoku is a direct-to-consumer e-commerce site where consumers can purchase ingredients and flowers directly from dedicated producers. It has achieved No. 1 rankings in nine categories, including customer awareness and usage rate, among Japanese direct-to-consumer e-commerce sites (※1).

It handles a wide range of products, including vegetables, fruits, rice, meat, fish, beverages, and flowers. A key feature is that consumers can communicate directly with producers, for example, by sharing their feedback on the products.

Tabechoku also offers services such as "Tabechoku Concierge," a subscription service for vegetables that selects producers matching your preferences, and the frozen food subscription service "Vivid TABLE." Additionally, it provides "Tabechoku for Business," a service for corporations that can be utilized for employee benefits and sales promotion campaigns.

As of April 2026, the number of users has surpassed 1.35 million, with over 11,500 registered producers, offering approximately 50,000 unique, high-quality products.

- URL: https://www.tabechoku.com/

- Official X (Twitter): https://x.com/tabechoku

- Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabechoku/

- Service introduction video explaining Tabechoku's concept and story

(※1) Achieved No. 1 in "Customer Awareness," "Customer Usage Rate," "Customer Usage Intention," "Web Access Volume," "SNS Follower Count," "Producer Count," "Producer Awareness," "Producer Usage Rate," and "Producer Usage Intention" among direct-to-consumer e-commerce sites in Japan.

Press Release URL: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000295.000025043.html

(※2) Direct-to-consumer e-commerce site: An e-commerce site focused on producers, characterized by producers directly shipping products to consumers' homes.

About Vivid Garden Inc.

Representative: Rina Akimoto, President and CEO

Headquarters Location: 1-7-3 Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Daiichi Bldg. 4F

Establishment Date: November 29, 2016

Business Activities: Development and operation of "Tabechoku," a direct-to-consumer e-commerce site for purchasing food and flowers directly from producers nationwide; development and operation of "Vivid TABLE," a frozen food brand where producers' faces are visible; support for national and local governments.

Company HP: https://vivid-garden.co.jp/

Official X (Twitter): https://x.com/vivid_garden_jp