Becca wrote on Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:14:00 -0600:

> brooklyn1 wrote:
>> "James Silverton" > wrote
>>
>>> Dried pears are not a fruit that I like much but it's hard
>>> to get properly ripened pears here.
>>
>> You can get properly ripened pears anywhere. Pears are
>> native to China, there are more than 300 varieties. Pear is a fruit
>> that ripens from the inside outwards, therefor pears must be picked
>> unripe or before they ripen they will begin to
>> rot in the center and fall. Pears are sold unripe, only
>> needs a few days on the countertop to ripen. When the stems pluck
>> easily the pear is ripe. If left to ripen too long
>> they will ferment in the center and the flavor will suffer.
>>
>> I have to admit the Harry and David do
>>
>>> sell good ones even if they are expensive.
>>>
>> They are a rip off. You're paying for advertising,
>> packaging, shipping, and exhorbitant profit. Because pears
>> are supposed to be harvested and transported unripe is why
>> they are the easiest fruit to ship. If you are receiving
>> fully ripened pears they likely already began to spoil. When
>> shopping for pears choose the hard ones.

> You are probably right about Harry & David, but I had some of their
> pears this year and they were the best pears I have ever
> had. Incredibly moist and sweet.. It was a gift, I would
> never spend that much money on pears, myself. lol

The trouble with buying hard pears in a supermarket is that I never seem
to successfully ripen them. There must be some tips that people can pass
on! About the only pears I buy in a supermarket are Sickel pears, which
are quite edible while hard.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not