Pears  of Greek origin.  The traditional pear dates back to the Stone Age, but was first cultivated by the Greeks. The French and English developed many varieties, and in 1630 the first pear tree was planted on American soil. More than 3000 varieties are known in the U.S., but less than a dozen are commercially imported today.

Varieties Pears range from the small Seckel pear (cook or pickle), to the large juicy Cornice pears (bake or out-of-hand eating) .Other varieties include Bartlett (poach or out-of-hand eating), Bosc, Anjous, Nelis.

Select  Firm pears of good color and shape without bruises. Store pears in the tissue-like papers they come wrapped in, if possible; the papers are generally treated to protect the pears. 

Storage  Ripen at room temperature. Store ripe fruit in the refrigerator and use as soon as possible. Pears held too long at a cool temperature turn brown inside. Peak of season in September and October.

Market Forms Fresh, sliced and canned or frozen in syrup, as nectar, dried, as whole pears, in syrup or spiced.

Serve As a. fruit, a dessert course, stuffed and. baked, with sauces.

Nutrition  An average pear is about 100 calories