Pears are of the oldest cultivated fruits in the world dating back over 5,000 years to Chinese farmers. The fruit of legend talked about by Homer in the Odyssey as the "gift of the gods." Pears are not only tasty enough to rave over, but are attractive enough to be the still-life subject of many of the worlds most famous artists. The pear tree has made its long journey through time from Asia to Europe and finally to America where it has been tweaked to perfection. Pear trees are of medium size typically reaching 15-30 feet tall and 10-20 feet wide. Most varieties require a partner for cross-pollination however some do not. Willis Orchard Company offers a fine selection of pear trees that will produce delicious fruits for your home orchard from July to October.

Asian Pears

Asian pears originate from Korea and have become extremely popular in the United States. They are round, sweet and crisp. Some say they eat like an apple but taste like a pear. However, they are actually much juicier than an apple and has a distinctive unique pear flavor. Willis Orchard Company has selected the three most fire blight resistant varieties to ensure the success of your home orchard. Asian pears are great eaten right off the tree or can be stored for months.

(Reminder: Standard pears ripen best off the tree, so pick them while firm and store in a paper bag in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks to complete ripening. In comparison, most Asian pears can be eaten fresh off the tree!)

Pear Trees