Tree Type: Pear, canning/ciderHarvesting Date: Mid to Late October
Location: Salem, MI (TW)
Approximate Tree Age: Mature
Tree Status: Antique Orchard
Possible Tree Varieties: I am fairly certain this is a Kieffer pear. Its stony flesh and bitter taste when ripened off of the tree hint at its sand pear heritage, and while it looks like a Bartlett, the Bartlett season ended 2-3 weeks ago.
Fruit size: Large
Shape: Pointed ends at both calyx and stem
Fruit color: Yellow-green with large, tough lenticels and heavy russeting
Skin: Medium-thick
Flesh: White with stone cells
Additional notes on appearance: These pears are frustratingly attractive to look at, since their taste and texture are so lacking. I will try a few methods of ripening them to see if I can get them to improve.
Taste: Bitter and high tannin, with a slight honey undertone
Texture: Crisp and smooth, but has multiple stone cells
Additional notes on taste: These pears have been great for cider making, as they provide the harder flesh for the juice of softer, sweeter pears to channel through when blended in the press.
Disease/Pest notes: heavy russeting due to wet summer, occasional coddling moth
