HEALTHY CORNER

Pears are delicious fruits that are related to the apple and the quince. While there are thousands of varieties of pears with each differing in size,shape, color, taste and storage qualities, the Bosc, Bartlett, Anjou and Comice pears are the most commonly available types in the United States.

Varieties such as Conference, Passe Crassane and Packham, which are popular in other countries, are also becoming more widely available.

Pears generally have a large round bottom that tapers towards the top.

Depending upon the variety, their paper-thin skins can either be yellow, green, brown, red or a combination of two or more of these colors.

The white to cream-colored flesh of pears is very juicy and sweet, while their textures are soft and buttery, yet slightly grainy.

Like apples, pears have a core that features several seeds.