North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Anton Callaway <marillen@earthlink.net>]

Ed,

That's kind of an easy question for me 'cause I've mostly grown European 
pears.  In short, I almost completely agree with you with one significant 
addition.  Seckel is OK off the tree, but 'Green Jade' aka 'Crisp 'n Sweet' 
is excellent just off the tree.

Green Jade is a crisp pear, but it's heritage is European.

Asians & Asian hybrids that are good off the tree include 'Shinko', 
'Megietsu', 'Kieffer' (it's never of good quality & we're just limiting 
discussion to relative quality just off the tree vs. after storage), 'Orient' 
and a tree that was sold as 'Waite', but clearly is not, thus I've dubbed it 
'Miss Label'.

Pears inedible to much poorer quality >when tasted just off the tree< include:
Ayres, Warren, Magness, Moonglow, Luscious, Starkcrimson, Carrick, Spalding 
(some people like it crunchy, just not me), Mericourt, Dabney, Dana Hovey, 
Potomac, Wilder Early, Bartlett, and Eldorado.

Best regards,

Anton
-----Original Message-----
>From: Ed Fackler <ed.fackler@gmail.com>
>Sent: May 9, 2009 10:00 AM
>To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
>Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Atlantic Queen pear
>
>John...and all NAFEX'ers.....
>
>      I must apologize for my recent statement ..... "most catalogue
>descriptions are weak".  Friend John Bunker (Fedco) publishes a very legit
>catalogue and runs a very legit nursery operation.
>
>      The central reason why made the statement is that most "quality"
>statements (especially flavor descriptions) are extremely difficult to
>capture in words.
>
>      Now that that is out of the way, I'd like to ask all experienced NAFEX
>members to comment on flavor ratings (good, great, pitiful, mediocre, etc.)
>on any/all pear varieties regarding flavor off the tree (versus post harvest
>chilled fruit).
>
>      I'll start by saying that most so-called Asian type varieties exhibit
>near true flavor when harvested/consumed directly from the tree.  A few
>(Olympic comes to mind) will develop enhanced flavors after a couple of
>months in refrigerated storage but this flavor change is subtle (perhaps a
>bit more of "butterscotch" than at harvest).
>
>      And Seckel is the only European type that I've personally grown that
>is excellent from the tree.
>
>ed........just curious about other's experiences.
>
>On Sat, May 9, 2009 at 8:48 AM, John Bunker <john.p.bunker@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> We have Atlantic Queen up here in central Maine and we like it very much.
>> John Bunker
>> Fedco
>> trees@fedcoseeds.com
>> www.fedcoseeds.com
>> PO Box 520
>> Waterville ME 04903
>> 207-873-7333
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On May 9, 2009, at 7:03 AM, Ed Fackler wrote:
>>
>> Alan:
>>
>>      It was an extremely weak flavored fruit in S. Indiana (in full sun)
>> for years.  Near all catalogue descriptions are weak it seems.  Also many,
>> if not most European types require varying degrees of post harvest handling
>> prior to peak flavor development I think.
>>
>> ed, So. Indiana...lots of rain and cool temps
>>
>> On Sat, May 9, 2009 at 6:55 AM, Alan Haigh <alandhaigh@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> It's interesting how varieties of fruit can be publicised in different
>>> ways.  Some have publicity similar to a mother bragging about her child.
>>>
>>> I think Atlantic Queen has benefited from this as descriptions of it are
>>> taken from the late Leuthardt himself as he described the pear in his
>>> catalogue when it was an exclusive for him many years ago.
>>>
>>> I manage a single Atlantic Queen that was purchased from Leuthhardt
>>> Nursery in Long Island, NY about 30 years ago.  This doesn't give me
>>> anywhere near enough experience with it to qualify me as a critic but I 
>>> must
>>> say that on the tree I manage the pears do not get up enough sugar to
>>> qualify it as a fine dessert pear.  It is a site that doesn't provide
>>> optimum sun but it does get full sun from mid morning until an hour before
>>> dusk and the Boscs and Seckels from adjacent trees are sweet as candy.
>>> Anyone else out there have experience with this pear?
>>>
>>>
>>>
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