General Information
Warren pears are a medium-sized pear with a bell shape and green skin when immature, developing to an earthy yellow-brown tone as it ages. Their outward appearance can be superficially scarred and capped with russeting due to its natural growing environment. Warren pears are semi-firm to the touch when ripe, and give off little to no aroma. The flesh of this pear is off-white in color and smooth in texture, without the typical grittiness found in more common pear varieties. Its flavor is sweet, floral and fresh, with vanilla and spice notes. When immature their flavor is milder and juicier, aging to a less juicy, more succulent texture.
History
Thomas Oscar Warren is said to have discovered the Warren pear growing in an abandoned experimental orchard in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, circa 1976. The pear had been growing with uncommon and unlikely success in the heat of the Deep South, even surviving the fire blight that ravaged most pear crops in the United States and is to be blamed for the sheer lack of many American heirloom pear varieties. Some mystery surrounds the origin of the Warren pear, with some speculating that it was the Magness pear, which was developed in Maryland and grafted by Mississippi State University in their now abandoned experimental field not far from Hattiesburg.
