Asian pears are ready to eat when purchased; European pears ripen after harvest. Check European pears for color changes, sweet aroma and soft flesh near the stem to spot ripeness. To speed ripening, ...

Juicy, full-flavored pears should be enjoyed year-round. Preserve some of that flavor by canning pears when they are available in the fall. Varieties suitable for canning include Bartlett, Harrow ...

It's hard to compete with America's most readily available fruit, but that's precisely what pears do when they go head-to-head with apples each year. Due to their similar growing conditions, harvest ...