Conference is the most widely-grown pear variety in the UK. It crops heavily and reliably, and will grow in most situations. It is also the leading commercial pear variety in Europe, with the Netherlands being the biggest producer.
Conference is self-fertile, and a good pollinator for many other pears.
A home-grown Conference pear, picked just before it is fully ripe, has an excellent flavour that should not disappoint.
Conference was developed by the Rivers Nursery of Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, in the second half of the 19th century. It is thought to be a seedling of a continental variety called Van Mons Leon Leclerc. It was named after the National British Pear Conference held in 1885.
The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.
Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Sports are natural genetic mutations of the original variety.
The following tree nurseries offer Conference pear trees for sale:
The following orchards grow Conference:
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