Churchland pear facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pear 'Churchland' |
|
|---|---|
| Genus | Pyrus |
| Species | Pyrus communis |
| Cultivar | 'Churchland' |
| Origin | New Rochelle, New York, USA |
The Churchland pear, also known simply as the Church pear, is a special type of European pear. It was first grown in New Rochelle, New York, in the northeastern United States. This pear is thought to have started from a seed planted by one of the first Huguenot settlers in the late 1600s. Huguenots were French Protestants who moved to America.
The very first Churchland pear tree grew on land owned by the Trinity St. Paul's Church in New Rochelle. This is how the pear got its name, "Church." People loved how delicious this pear was. Because it was so popular, new trees were grown from the original one. This process, called propagation, helped the pear spread widely across the country.
New Rochelle was famous for growing many different trees and plants in its early days. The Huguenot settlers were especially good at developing new fruits and flowers. Other pear types, like the 'Parsonage' and 'Huntington' pears, also came from this community. The 'Lawton Blackberry', which was the first widely grown blackberry in the U.S., also originated there.
What Makes the Churchland Pear Special?
The Churchland pear is a medium-sized fruit. It is usually about 2 to 3 inches long and 2 and a third inches wide. The pear is widest in the middle and gets narrower towards both ends.
Appearance and Taste
The skin of the Churchland pear is a greenish-yellow color. It often has a rough, brownish patch near its top and bottom. Sometimes, you might see these brownish marks on other parts of the pear too. The stem is about one and three-eighths inches long and looks like cinnamon.
When you bite into a Churchland pear, you'll find its flesh is very fine and smooth, almost like butter. It has a gentle, mild flavor that many people enjoy.
When to Enjoy Them
These pears start to ripen around the middle of July. You can continue to enjoy them until the end of September. This long ripening period means you can have fresh Churchland pears for several months!
