North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Richard Moyer <ramoyer@gmail.com>]

Richard wrote:
"If possible, I would like to plant a pear tree in my garden.  My home is
in San Diego, CA.  Fruit trees with < 250 chill hour requirements do
well here.  Fire-blight is pervasive..."

Check out the NAFEX Southern Pear Interest Group at
http://www.geocities.com/ccduster/page10.htm
These folks are doing what you are asking, some of them for decades.

Richard Moyer
East Tennessee