Produce Briefs...
Italian Black Summer Truffles
Black summer truffles are more subtle than the winter variety. Shave truffle over cooked potatoes, toss with herbs and a shallot vinaigrette. Thinly shave truffle over scrambled eggs.
White Corn
White corn is a sweet corn variety. Its ears are wrapped in tightly layered pale lime green to white husks. One ear of corn can contain up to 400 kernels growing in rows lengthwise.
Seasons/Availability
Conference pears are available during most of the year with a peak season in the late fall and winter.
Current Facts
Conference pears are also known as ‘Belgium pears’ in some parts of the world, so called for their country of origin.
Description/Taste
Conference pears are long and thin with a bright green skin and mottled brown spots. They are sweet and juicy with a smooth-textured flesh. Conference pears need time to ripen, maybe a week or two on the counter. Their excellent storage qualities make the sweet fruit ideal for exporting.
Applications
These Belgian pears are good fresh out-of-hand as well as baked or cooked. Make sure the pears are ripe to maximize their flavor. Poach pears in simple syrup with a cinnamon stick or bake them in a tart. Add to salads or add to cheese plates as a flavorful compliment.
Geography/History
The mottled Conference pear is only grown in Belgium, the Netherlands and in some parts of France. They were discovered in 1884 named for the British National Pear Conference in 1895 where the pear was first exhibited. These popular European pears can be found in England, the US and have been imported to China since 2011, after success in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Recently Spotted
Someone spotted Conference Pears using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Spotting allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
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Fresh Mart Near Shanghai, Shanghai, China About 7 days ago Spotter's comments : Fresh Conference pears are available |
