Pear Info

Originating in Asia, China, and Europe, pears are one of the world's oldest cultivated and beloved fruits. The Greek poet Homer mentions pears in The Odyssey as a "gift of the gods". Pears were a valuable and much-desired commodity among ancient traders. This fruit was also featured in many religious paintings of the Renaissance.

Pears in Canada

Pears made their way to North America with early colonists. For example, 'Jesuit' pear trees were planted by early French settlers near what is now Detroit, Michigan. Extremely rare today, these trees marked the boundaries of the French Canadian communities near Windsor and Chatham, Ontario, and American French communities in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. Historical references describe these trees as being as tall as 80 feet and with circumferences as wide as 10 feet.

Today, the dominant pear growing regions are in Ontario and British Columbia with some additional production in Nova Scotia.

Ontario:
Main pear varieties grown are Bartlett and Bosc with minor production of Anjou, Flemish Beauty and Clapp.

British Columbia:
Main pear varieties grown are Bartlett and Anjou with minor production of Bosc, Red, Asian pears and others.

Nova Scotia:
Main pear varieties grown are Bartlett and Clapp.