We had a great time last night picking some fabulous Beurre Bosc pears.
To fit in with 9-5 workers, the harvest kicked off at 6.30, which gave us just enough time to strip this tree. The owner only wanted a bag or so for her daughter to stew, so the rest of the pears were split between the pickers and local charities.
In the end, we picked over 80 kg, including some bird damaged fruit that can still be used in stewing. Beurre Bosc isn’t a pear that is usually eaten fresh from the tree; it is very firm when picked and is then stored for a few days. During storage, the pear softens and is much more palatable.
It can also be stewed immediately after harvest, which is what the owner of this tree usually does. We gave most of the donated fruit to Food is Free Laneway, with another big batch heading to the Norman St Salvation Army Thrift Store & Drop in Centre. One of the harvesters, Jackie, also donated several pears to an appreciative equine neighbour in the next paddock!
