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Pears

Pears or Pyrus communis are a pome fruit and family of the apple. One of the earliest written reports comes from Homer's suggesting as "Gifts from the Gods." Pears is in second rank to the apple as the most popular US fruit. They can be eaten and used in the same way as the apple. One diverse feature of the pear in addition the shape is the soft texture. This soft skin is the result of the starch which converts into sugar after being picked from a tree to ripen.

In US it is produced by the states in the Northwest, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and California.
The different shape of a pear says of its luscious nature. Pears of all sizes and colors are available all around the year. When it is ripen and ready to eat, the pear has a honeyed flavor and with a great smell.
Anjou, Bartlett, Bose, Comice, Forelle, and Seckel are the main varieties. Pears are available in varies colors including green, golden yellow and red.
Pear Varieties

Green Anjou

Green Anjou is best when eaten fresh. Its green in color even when ripe. Its best for baking when slightly ripe. But once it ripens, its sweet, mellow flavor and abundant juice make it an excellent choice for salads and snacks.

Red Bartlett

The Red Bartlett has a very bright red skin, sweet and juicy flavor when it’s in ripe condition. The flavor and texture is the same as yellow Bartlett except that Red Bartlett’s are bit smaller. They play the role of wonderful color accent in fresh fruit-salads or desserts.

Red Anjou

Yellow Bartlett has the same flavor and texture as green Anjou. They have a unique egg shaped appearance which makes easy to differentiate from other varieties. Red Anjous are generally dark maroon in color which shows no or little change in color when ripe.

Bosc

Available August through April The Bosc has a firm, dense, yet tender flesh with brown skin that hides a deliciously, sweet and spicy flavor. Its dense flesh makes it ideal for baking and cooking. Color doesn't change as it ripens, excellent for baking. Its mild, not-too-sweet flavor is great for microwave recipes, salads, and snacks.

Yellow Bartlett

Available August through December One of the most common and popular pears, this large, bell-shaped all-purpose pear has a yellow skin sometimes blushed with pale red. It is very sweet, juicy, aromatic and perfect for salads, eating fresh, and excellent for canning or cooking. It holds its shape and flavor in baking and cooking.

Forelle

Available September through February Slightly larger than a Seckel, with freckled skin and a red blush. For what they lack in size, Forelle pears make up in sweet flavor and beautiful appearance. They're an excellent snack or lunch-box pear…sweet, juicy, and crisp.

Comice

Available August through March Is hard, green, and rounder than a Bartlett, but similar in flavor and texture. One of the largest, sweetest and juiciest varieties. Best used fresh in salads, served as an elegant dessert pear, or as an excellent accompaniment with cheese.

Seckel

Available August through February Tiny pears with ultra-sweet flavor, so sweet in fact they are called "sugar pears." Maroon and olive green in color, with no color change when ripened. They are an excellent choice for children's snacks, pickling, or as a garnish.

Did you know that there are over 3,000 varieties of pears? Of those, only a few are grown commercially and the pears available to you may depend on where you live and the time of year.


Healthy Diet

Fresh pears provide dietary fiber, much of it in the form of Pectin. A pear with 166 grams weight offers 2.32 grams of crude fiber, and 4 grams of dietary fiber, among which is 41% is pectin. No calories in Fiber and it is a essential element for a healthy diet, that helps to sustain blood sugar levels and promots regularity. High concentration of fiber may also help to reduce the risk of colon cancer and can help to reduce serum cholesterol. Therefore, pears are a good source of fiber.

How to buy fresh Pears?

The most popular variety of pear is the Bartlett, which is produced in great quantities (in California, Washington, and Oregon) both for canning and for sale as a fresh fruit. With the aid of cold storage, Bartlett pears are available from early August through November. Several fall and winter varieties of pears are grown in Washington, Oregon, and California, and shipped to fresh fruit markets. These varieties - Anjou, Bosc, Winter Nellis, and Comice - keep well in cold storage and are available over a long period, from November until May.

Look for: Firm pears of all varieties. The color depends on variety. For Bartletts, look for a pale yellow to rich yellow color; Anjou or Comice - light green to yellowish-green; Bosc - greenish-yellow to brownish-yellow (the brown cast is caused by skin russeting, a characteristic of the Bosc pear); Winter Nellis - medium to light green. Pears which are hard when you find them in the food store will probably ripen if kept at room temperature, but it is wise to select pears that have already begun to soften - to be reasonably sure that they will ripen satisfactorily.

Avoid: Wilted or shriveled pears with dull-appearing skin and slight weakening of the flesh near the stem, which indicates immaturity. These pears will not ripen. Also avoid spots on the sides or blossom ends of the pear, which means that corky tissue may be underneath.
 



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