Pears are members of the rose family and related to the apple and the quince. There are more than 5,000 varieties of pears and although most have a large round bottom that tapers towards the top, not all are pear-shaped. Varieties differ in size, shape, color, taste and storage qualities; the Bosc, Bartlett, Anjou and Comice pears are the most commonly available types in the United States. Pear trees can produce fruit for up to 100 years.

History
While the cultivation of pears has been traced back in western Asia for three thousand years, there is also some speculation that its history goes back even further and that this fruit was discovered by people in the Stone Age. Whatever their origins, pears have been revered throughout time. Called the "gift of the gods" by Homer in his epic, The Odyssey, pears were also a luxurious item in the court of Louis XIV. The early colonists brought pears to America, and while the first pear tree was planted in 1620, much of their pear supply was still imported from France. Like many other fruit trees, pears were introduced into California and Mexico by missionaries who planted them in their mission gardens.
 
Interestingly, with all of the respect that pears commanded, until the 18th century they did not have the soft juicy flesh that we now know them to possess. It was during this time that a lot of attention was given to the cultivation and breeding of pears, and many varieties were developed that featured pears' distinctive buttery texture and sweet taste. Today, the leading pear producers, in order are Italy, China and the United States.

Nutrition

One pear, generally equates to two half-cup servings, or half of the daily-recommended intake of fruit.  While low in calories, they are among the sweetest fruits, as Levulose, the sweetest of known natural sugars, is found to a greater extent in fresh pears than any other fruit.  Although not well-documented in scientific research, pears are often recommended by healthcare practitioners as a hypoallergenic fruit that is less likely to produce an adverse response than other fruits. Particularly in the introduction of first fruits to infants, pear is often recommended as a safe way to start. Nutritional Data

Pears are a good source of vitamin C and copper. Both of these nutrients can be thought of as antioxidant nutrients that help protect cells in the body from oxygen-related damage due to free radicals. Vitamin C functions as an antioxidant in all water-soluble areas of the body, and in addition to its antioxidant activity, is critical for good immune function. Vitamin C stimulates white cells to fight infection, directly kills many bacteria and viruses, and regenerates Vitamin E (an antioxidant that protects fat-soluble areas of the body) after it has been inactivated by disarming free radicals.

Copper helps protect the body from free radical damage as a necessary component of superoxide dismutase (SOD), a copper-dependent enzyme that eliminates superoxide radicals. Superoxide radicals are a type of free radical generated during normal metabolism, as well as when white blood cells attack invading bacteria and viruses. If not eliminated quickly, superoxide radicals damage cell membranes.

One medium pear also contains as much as 5 grams of fiber, which is beneficial to many parts of your body including your heart, digestive system and cholesterol levels.

Selection and Storage
Pears are very perishable once they are ripe, so the ones you find at the market will generally be unripe and will require a few days of maturing. The color of good quality pears may not be uniform as some may feature russetting where there are brown-speckled patches on the skin; this is an acceptable characteristic and oftentimes reflects a more intense flavor. Avoid pears that are punctured or have dark soft spots.

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