Pyrus communis Précoce de Trévoux - Pear Tree

The Early Trevoux Pear is an old, fertile and vigorous variety that ensures good and regular yields. It produces a medium-sized fruit, pyriform and plump in shape, widely truncated towards the pedicel. Its thin skin is light green, turning yellow when ripe, with shades of carmine pink when exposed to sunlight. Its white flesh is firm, fine, melting, juicy, very sweet, pleasantly acidic, and almost seedless. The harvest extends from mid-August to early September, and the fruits are consumed as soon as they are picked and only keep for a few days, as they ripen quickly and become mealy. Subtly acidic and rich in sugar, it is a dessert pear, delicious to enjoy raw. Cooked, it is a variety that lends itself well to many sweet or savoury recipes, to the production of excellent pear syrup, or to the making of preserved pears in syrup. It is a partially self-fertile variety that requires the presence of other pear varieties nearby to improve pollination and increase the number of fruits. Very resistant to diseases, it is resistant to scab.

Pyrus communis (Common Pear) is a fruit tree belonging to the Rosaceae family. Present in Europe since ancient times, it originated in the forests of Western Asia. In France, pear trees appeared in the 16th century, when several species were cultivated in the gardens of the king under the reign of Louis XIV. Over the centuries, a very large number of cultivars have emerged. Its cultivation is widespread in Europe.

The Early Trevoux variety was obtained around 1862 by Mr. François Treyve (1818-1911), a horticulturist from Trevoux, in the Ain department, in the Rhône-Alpes region. This pear tree forms a fairly erect tree with a canopy that can reach approximately 5 meters (16 feet) in height and 4 meters (13 feet) in width when fully grown, producing numerous spreading branches. Its habit is well suited to low forms (goblet shape) or espaliers (fan or cordon), avoiding tall standards as the fruits easily drop. Its deciduous foliage is composed of large leaves measuring 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4in) in length, alternate, ovate, and shiny green, turning yellow-orange in autumn. The flowering occurs in April, which generally protects it from frost. The white flowers, single, 2 to 3 cm (1in) in diameter, grouped in umbels, are nectariferous. They can be destroyed by frost from -2 to -3°C (28.4 to 26.6°F). It is a hardy tree that tolerates temperatures around -25°C (-13°F) and is suitable for cultivation in all regions of France, including at high altitudes. This Pear tree is self-sterile or self-incompatible, meaning the flowers cannot self-pollinate. That is why the presence of other pear varieties in the vicinity, with flowering occurring at the same time, is necessary. For example, the varieties Beurré Hardy, Conference, Doyenné du Comice, Jules Guyot, Louise Bonne d'Avranches, William's Bon Chrétien, and William's Rouge are suitable for cross-pollination, thus increasing the number of fruits.

The Early Trevoux pear tree is a high-yielding variety, very fertile, with rapid fruiting and abundant and regular fruit production. The harvest begins from mid-August, and the fruits are consumed as soon as they are picked at their ripeness. The pear can be eaten raw or cooked, in compotes, pastries, and desserts, in fruit salads or mixed salads, in combination with cheeses, or as an accompaniment to savory dishes, alongside ducks, white meats (poultry and lamb), or game. It is also perfect for making juices or preserved fruits in syrup. Rich in water, the pear refreshes and quenches thirst. Very fleshy, it provides a great feeling of satiety. Moderately caloric, it is well supplied with potassium, calcium, and magnesium, with a significant iron content. Its content of vitamins C and E, antioxidants, and fibers make the pear a health asset. It is invigorating, energizing, and rehydrating. It is best to harvest the fruits a few days before they are fully ripe, as they do not become overripe quickly, but they can only be stored for a few days.

Very popular thanks to its fruits, the pear tree finds its place in the garden for the pleasure of young and old. Among a wide range of pear trees, it is easy to find the variety that best suits one's desires.