European Pears

Bartlett

Forelle

Doyenne du Comice

Golden Russet Bosc

BARTLETT PEARS

"Victory has a thousand fathers, defeat is an orphan."
John F. Kennedy.
This pear is so good, eveybody claims it.

In the United States, a Massachussetts nurseryman, Enoch Bartlett, popularized it in the 19th Century and named it after himself.

In most of the world, it is known as Williams, after a 17th Century English horticulturist who propagated it from cuttings given to him by schoolmaster John Stair.

Across the channel, French pomologists claim it really is the Medieval variety Bon-Chretien, given to King Louis XI on his death bed by a Calabrian saint, that passed to Perfidious Albion and changed names.

However you call it, it is the first European pear of the season, and one of the very best. Yellow skin sometimes tinged with pink. Wonderfully aromatic, tender, fine-grained flesh is sweet, juicy, deliciously complex. Their only defect: they sell out too quickly.

Season: August

Size: 20 to 36 per metric layer

Suggested uses: Fresh eating, salads, cheese platters, baking, sorbets, preserves, sauces.

Shelf life: Can be delivered chilled and firm, in which case it will keep at 32 degrees for 3 weeks. To soften, bring to room temperature for up to 5 days. Can also be delivered ready to eat.

Penryn Fruit List

Apples

Asian pears

Cherries

Citrus

European Pears

Feijoas

Figs

Grapes

Kiwifruit

Plums

Peaches

Persimmons

Pomegranates