Conference pears are long, tapered pears with skin green fading to yellow, with russet blotches.
They are juicy and sweet.
Cooking Tips
Good all-purpose pear that can be used for eating fresh, cooking or preserving.
History Notes
Conference pears were developed by Thomas Francis Rivers (1831-1899) of Rivers Nursery in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England from 1884 an open pollinated seedling from a Leon Leclerc de Laval pear tree.
Literature & Lore
Named for an award the pear received at the International Pear Conference in 1885.
Sources
Carrell, Severin. English orchards at risk as imports take a bigger bite of the market. London: The Independent. 29 December 2002.
Conference Pears history. Retrieved November 2008 from http://www.conference-pears.com/historie.htm
Rivers Nursery, a brief history. Retrieved November 2008 from http://www.riversnurseryorchard.org.uk/Rivers%20Time%20Line3.htm.