Seek Out Juicy Organic Local Pears
Have you ever tried a proper juicy organic pear? Most supermarkets only sell rock-hard pears from abroad, which are shipped (or more likely air-freighted) to England frozen. Then then sit in central distribution houses (all the chilling and travelling uses a colossal amount of oil).
Real pears are organically grown and super-juicy, you’ll need a napkin! They are packed with nutrition (and surprisingly for a fruit, they are rich in calcium).
Most people can eat pears, though obviously avoid for young children and choking hazards. Also keep away from pets, as fruit pips and seed are unsafe near animal friends.
England has a quite few types of pears, and you’ll find good ones at local organic box schemes, farm shops or farmers’ markets (they will also not be packed in plastic packaging). Good ones include:
- Conference (sweet and juicy!)
- Comice (even sweeter, a great dessert pear)
- Concorde (widely grown)
- Williams (Bartlett (proper English!)
You can also (just like cooking apples) buy cooking pears. So keep an eye out! Cooked pears is a lovely teatime warming treat in cold weather.
Of course, two other ways to support our local pear growers are to buy organic pear juice (again often found in farm shops). Or failing that, head thee to your local pub, and order some organic vegan cider (fermented pears, not just apples!)
