Pears are one of the world’s oldest cultivated and beloved fruits. In 5,000 B.C., Feng Li, a Chinese diplomat, abandoned his responsibilities when he became consumed by grafting pears as a commercial venture.
Cultivated since before the time of the Greeks, the common pear, was carried into northern Europe by the Romans. It was not until the 18th century that pear familiar to today’s home gardeners was developed.
Today, dried Pears are exported by the USA, South Africa, Australia and Argentina.
