Famous fruit
December is National Pear Month, not just because we hear about them in a famous Christmas carol, but because most of the varieties are in season.
There are six main states in the U.S. that produce pears: California, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington. Of these states, California, Oregon and Washington make up the majority of production.
In 2023, Washington led in pear production with 290,000 tons, Oregon produced 190,000 tons, and California produced 165,000 tons.
Exports and imports
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During the 2022 market year, the U.S. exported 244.3 million pounds of fresh pears valued at $148 million, and exported 6.2 million pounds of prepared/preserved pears valued at $3.9 million. The top two countries for fresh and prepared/preserved exported pears are Mexico and Canada.
The U.S. imports the most from Argentina (54.8%) and the second-most from China (15.6%).
Bartlett pears change color from green to yellow as they ripen. Anjou and other varieties show little color change as the ripen.
The Bartlett is one of the older pear varieties, first developed in the late 1700s in the U.S.
Most canned and processed pears are made from Bartletts.
According to Pear Bureau Northwest, about 3,000 known varieties of pears are grown worldwide.
Nutritional Benefits
Pears are rich in essential antioxidants, plant compounds and dietary fiber. They are also free from fat and cholesterol. They can benefit a person’s digestion, cholesterol levels and overall wellbeing. One medium pear provides around 100 calories.
Pears contain high levels of antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin K and copper. These chemicals counter the effects of free radicals, protecting cells from the damage they can cause.
Threats
Pear trees are highly susceptible to a bacterial disease called fire blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora. There are some slightly tolerant varieties available. Fire blight is most likely to occur when temperatures of 75° to 85° are followed by sporadic rain. Proper management can lessen the disease from occurring.
Forbidden fruit?
“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it” (Genesis 3:6).
The Bible doesn’t specify what type of fruit Adam and Eve ate. According to compassion.com, a Christian website, “Some religious scholars say the apple’s association with the forbidden fruit might have started when the Bible was translated from Hebrew into Latin. The Latin words for “evil” and “apple” are both versions of the word malus. More specifically, the Latin word for “apple” is mālum, while the Latin word for “evil” is mălum.”
Historians have speculated it could have been a pomegranate, mango, fig, grape, etrog or citron, carob, pear, quince or mushroom.
Tree wood
Pear wood is one of the preferred materials in the manufacture of woodwind instruments, recorders, guitars, mandolins and furniture. Pearwood is used in recorders mostly because it is resistant to moisture and saliva.
Partridge in a pear tree
The origins of the song are unclear, but it originated in France. The first time the song appears in literature is in ‘Mirth Without Mischief,’ a children’s book published in 1780 in England.
In modern folklore, each element of the carol is said to be a code word for a religious reality which children could remember. Some claim it was a way for Catholics to teach kids about the Bible when they were persecuted.
• The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
• Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
• Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
• The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
And so on.
But the song’s origin in France, and its secular and playful manner lead myth busters to believe it is a simple French memory song for children during Christmas.
Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Marketing Resource Center, USApears.org, Epicurious, stokemuseums.org.uk, Medical News Today
