Unique Features: The Summercrisp pear originated from a chance seedling of unknown parentage and was first marketed in the 1980’s. It blooms in mid spring, about the same time as Parker and Patten pears, so these 3 make nice pollinating partners but any pear with an overlapping bloom time will work. The Summercrisp is also a good pollinator for other pears. The fruit is small, 3’’-3 1/2”, and is best when picked before it is ripe and eaten fresh while it is still firm and crunchy.  Pick them when the skin is just turning to a light green and then store them refrigerated to maintain the flavor and crunchiness. Left longer they soften, and the flavor is lost. The Summercrisp can develop chlorosis, or iron deficiency, in our high pH soil.  This is easy to correct by supplementing with chelated iron. It does have good resistance to fire blight, and can live up to 70 years with proper care.