Tree Type: Pear, Cider/Wild
Harvesting Date: Mid October
Location: Salem, MI (CF)
Approximate Tree Age: 45-60 years
Tree Status: Wilding
Possible Tree Varieties: I am inclined to say this is a wild pear tree, but its fruit size is quite large and it happens to stand near several other "wilding" or antique orchard pears. It may have been planted many years ago as a pollinator or even as a cider pear, though that seems far-fetched.
Fruit size: Small
Shape: Round
Shape: Round
Fruit color: Deep green with tiny lenticels and calyx-end russetting
Skin: Medium
Flesh: Green/white
Taste: High acid, Very high puckery tannin. Unpalatable, but adds intense flavor to cider.
Texture: Hard, crunchy and pretty much impossible to bite into.
Texture: Hard, crunchy and pretty much impossible to bite into.
Additional notes on taste: While this is pretty disgusting to chew on, I plan to try cooking some to see if they become sweeter. I'm still researching this variety, but it's definitely not a typical cultivated pear, nor is it the same as most of the wild pears I have found.
Disease/Pest notes: Sooty pear spot, but otherwise very healthy considering age and location
