white pear

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Homer praised the pear as a 'gift of the gods.' The pear is one of the oldest fruits harvested, with cultivation dating back to 5000 BC. Then, Chinese diplomat Feng Li gave up his responsibilities to turn to a life of grafting various fruits and crops, pears included. Pears are depicted in many Renaissance still-life pieces, as it mirrored the same time period in which European farmers began harvesting the fruit. There are over 20 varieties of the pear found throughout the world.