Famous fruit
December is National Pear Monthnot simply because we hear about it in a famous Christmas song, but because most varieties are currently in season.
There are six predominant states where pears are grown within the United States: California, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington. Of these states, California, Oregon and Washington account for the vast 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
The US imports most from Argentina (54.8%) and second most from China (15.6%).
Bartlett pears turn from green to yellow as they ripen. Anjou and other varieties show little color change as they ripen.
The Bartlett is considered one of the older pear varieties, first developed within the United States within the late 18th century
Most canned and processed pears are produced from Bartletts.
According to the Pear Bureau Northwest, about 3,000 known varieties of pears are grown worldwide.
Nutritional Benefits
Pears are wealthy in essential antioxidants, botanicals and fiber. They are also freed from fat and cholesterol. They can improve an individual's digestion, levels of cholesterol and overall well-being. A medium-sized pear provides around 100 calories.
Pears contain high levels of antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin K and copper. These chemicals counteract the consequences of free radicals and protect cells from the damage they could cause.
Threats
Pear trees are highly liable to a bacterial disease called fire blight, which is attributable to the bacterium Erwinia amylovora. Some mildly tolerant varieties can be found. Fire blight is almost certainly to occur when temperatures of 75 to 85 degrees follow sporadic rainfall. Proper treatment can reduce the occurrence of the disease.
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 it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it” (Genesis 3:6).
The Bible doesn’t specify what kind of fruit Adam and Eve ate. According to Compassion.com, a Christian website, “Some religious scholars say that the apple's association with the forbidden fruit may have begun when the Bible was translated from Hebrew into Latin.” The Latin words for “evil” and “apple” are each 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 that it can have been a pomegranate, mango, fig, grape, etrog or lemon, carob, pear, quince or mushroom.
tree wood
Pearwood is considered one of the popular materials in making woodwind instruments, recorders, guitars, mandolins and furniture. Pearwood is utilized in recorders primarily since it is proof against moisture and saliva.
Partridge in a pear tree
The song's origins are unclear, but it surely originally comes from France. The song first appears in literature in Mirth Without Mischief, a children's book published in England in 1780.
In modern folklore, each element of the carol is taken into account a code word for a non secular reality that children can remember. Some claim it was a way for Catholics to show the Bible to children after they were being persecuted.
• The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
• Two turtledoves were the Old and New Testaments.
• Three French chickens represented faith, hope and love.
• The 4 calling birds were the 4 gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
And so forth.
But the song's origins in France and its secular and playful nature lead myth hunters to consider it is a straightforward French remembrance song for kids at Christmas.
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