Interesting facts about pears

pears

Pear is a type of deciduous tree that belongs to family of roses.

The European pear originated in Southeast Asia and was first cultivated in Europe about 1000 B.C. Asian pears were cultivated in China as early as 1134 B.C.

Pears are native to Asia and Europe. The first pear tree was planted in the North America in 1620 in the Massachusetts Bay colony.

There are over 3000 varieties of pears grown around the world.

Standard-size pear tree can grow to 12 meters (40 feet) tall if not pruned and have a spread of 9 to 12 meters (30 to 40 feet). Standard pears are commonly pruned from 4.5 to 7.5 meters (15 to 25 feet) tall with an equal spread. Plant standard pear trees 5.5 to 7.5 meters (18 to 25 feet) apart. Standard pears fruit in 4 to 8 years and can live for 75 years.

pear tree

Pear trees have heart-shaped or oval green leaves which are arranged on branches alternately.
pear tree leaves

Pear develops white or pink flowers. Even though flowers contain both types of reproductive organs (stamens and pistil), they cannot perform self-pollination. Insects are main pollinators of flowers.

pear flower

Pear produces round, oval or conical fruit that is covered with yellow, green or reddish skin. Flesh is white or creamy colored and filled with stone cells.

Fruit is harvested green because it continues to ripen after removal from the tree. That way, producers of pears prevents pears to become overripe before they become available in the supermarkets around the world.

Pears are one of the highest-fiber fruits, offering six grams per medium-sized fruit, helping you meet your daily requirement of 25 to 30 grams.

Pears contain a fair amount of vitamins C, K, B2, B3, and B6. For expecting or nursing moms, they also contain folate. Pears aren’t too shabby in the mineral department either, containing calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, and manganese. Vitamin C and copper are antioxidant nutrients, so eating pears is good for your immune system and may help prevent cancer.

pear

Pears also contain boron, which our bodies need in order to retain calcium, so this fruit can also be linked to prevention of osteoporosis.

Quercetin is another antioxidant found in the skin of pears.

World’s most expensive pear is Buddha shaped pears $9.00 each.These pears look exactly like a Buddha statue, even down to the facial details.A mold was made by Chinese farmer Xianzhang Hao of the Hebei province.

worlds most expensive pear

The heaviest pear was 2.948 kg (6 lb 8 oz) and was grown by JA Aichi Toyota Nashi Bukai (Japan) and presented at the JA Aichi Toyota main office in Toyota, Aichi, Japan on 11 November 2011. The pear was an atago pear. This variety is the biggest pear in Japan and it is original from the Okayama prefecture.

China is the leader in production of pears.

They were given the nickname butter fruit” in the 1700s because of their soft, buttery texture.

Wine poached pears is very popular dessert.

wine poached pears

Pear leaves were used for the preparation of cigarettes, before tobacco became popular.

The pear was sacred to two goddesses in Greek mythology – Hera and Aphrodite. It was also sacred to the corresponding Roman goddesses, Juno and Venus, as well as to Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruitfulness.

In the Odyssey, Homer called the pear a “gift from the Gods.”