Pears

The pears that actually thrive in Alabama are the firm, fireblight-resistant Southern types, so expect a dense crunchy fruit rather than a buttery European dessert pear. They store extremely well - weeks in a cool spot, months refrigerated - and many people prefer to let them sit a week or two after picking to soften and sweeten. Cook them and they hold their shape beautifully instead of collapsing. Sold fresh through local Alabama delivery, farm pickup, and our farmers-market stand.

• Grown in: Lineville, Alabama (no synthetic pesticides)
• Freshness: Harvested at peak and sold fresh
• Availability: Seasonal - local Alabama delivery & pickup
• Storage: Refrigerate and enjoy fresh
• Why it's good: Nutrient-dense and picked at peak freshness

• Storage: Cool and dry for short term, refrigerated for long term; they do not need to be used quickly
• Shelf life: Weeks in a cool spot, a couple of months refrigerated - the best keeper in this whole range
• Washing: Rinse before eating. No special handling; the skin is tough and these are not delicate fruit.
• Using: Crisp and raw, or - because they hold their shape instead of collapsing - poached, canned, baked or preserved. These are the pears the South cans, and they are very good at it.

Why are these crunchy instead of buttery?
Because the pears that actually survive Alabama are the firm, fireblight-resistant Southern types, not the soft European dessert pears. Expect a dense, granular, juicy crunch. That is the variety doing what it does, not an unripe fruit.

Should I let them sit before eating?
Many people do, and it helps. A week or two in a cool place softens and sweetens them. Pears are one of the few fruits that genuinely ripen better off the tree than on it.

How long will they really keep?
Longer than you expect - weeks on a cool shelf and a good two months in the fridge. They are the fruit to buy when you want something that is not a race against the clock.