Asian Pear
ROSACEAE, The Rose family
Also called ‘Shinseiki’, this Japanese variety is a 1945 cross between ’20th Century’ (‘Nijisseiki’) and ‘Chojuro’.
Driving through the Hood River Valley on the way to camp on the mountain, Michael and I passed many orchards laden with fruit. There were workers in the fields picking, and huge crates of fruit stacked up and ready to be loaded on to trucks. We stopped at a roadside stand that had a sign that said ‘Meet the three little pigs.’ We met them, and some sheep with curly horns, and some small goats. Then we bought fruit- ‘Jonagold’ apples, white peaches, ‘Bartlett’ pears, and the prize: Asian pears called ‘New Century’. They are crisp, juicy and fragrant, with a thin golden skin. The flesh near the core is tart. Unlike European pears, they are ripe when picked and can be eaten directly. They store well in refrigeration for several months, but bruise easily. This cultivar is supposed to be easy to grow. It is hardy in zones 6 through 9. They have a low chill requirement, 450 hours. What are chill hours?
I brought my pear to the shelter on the trail to Cooper’s Spur and ate it while sitting on top of a boulder.
