THE VOLPINO PEAR TREE

In local dialect “Lu peru”

Pyrus communis L.
Rosaceae

🌳 AN ANCIENT AND HARDY TREE

  • The Volpino pear tree is a very ancient variety; it has been cultivated for centuries in Italy, especially in Romagna, Tuscany, the Marche and Umbria.
  • This resistant, hardy tree grows even in poor, rocky soils, and it does not require any special care.
  • It is often used as rootstock for other pear varieties because of its strong roots.

🍐 SMALL, YET TOUGH VOLPINO PEARS!

  • Ripening period: Generally, they ripen between October and November, making them a fall-winter variety.
  • They are very small, rounded and hard, with thick, wrinkled peel, yellow-rust or brownish in colour.
  • When raw, they have an astringent, tannic taste, to the point that they are almost inedible when fresh!😅
  • However, once baked, they become sweet, soft and fragrant, making them ideal for traditional preparations.

 

🔥 HOW TO EAT THEM?

Volpino pears are ideal for baking and they have been used in traditional recipes for centuries. For example:

  • They can be cooked in wine or must with cinnamon and sugar, becoming a true fall treat!🍷
  • They can be baked with honey and spices, making them a perfect rustic dessert.
  • They can be used for jams and preserves, often served with apples and chestnuts.
  • In the past, they were dried and preserved for the winter, and they were eaten as snacks.

📜 STORY AND TRADITION

  • The name Volpino (literally, “small fox”) may derive from the fact that this fruit resembles a small fox’s head in both colour and shape. 🦊
  • In the past, Volpino pears were used as pigswill because they are highly nutritious and rich in sugars.
  • In the countryside, during the fall, they used to cook the pears in the fireplace, on embers, spreading an irresistible fragrance all over the house.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER VARIETIES

PEAR VARIETY

RIPENING PERIOD

FRUIT SIZE

MAIN FEATURES

Volpino pear

October-November

Small

Thick peel, solid pulp, suitable for cooking/baking

Williams pear

August-September

Medium-large

Sweet and juicy, ideal for fresh consumption and juices

Kaiser pear

October

Medium-large

Rust-coloured peel, fragrant taste, ideal for baking

Decana del Comizio pear

September

Medium

Delicate, very sweet pulp, not too grainy

Passe Crassane pear

November-December

Large

Suitable for preservation, sweet and solid

Coscia pear

July-August

Small

Very sweet, juicy and ideal for fresh consumption

Angelica pear

September-October

Medium-large

Yellow-green pear, sweet and aromatic pulp

🐝 VOLPINO PEARS AS ALLIES OF BIODIVERSITY

  • The Volpino pear tree is a great ally of biodiversity because this ancient variety has almost disappeared.
  • Its blossom attracts bees, and birds and wild animals love its ripe fruits.

These contents were written and researched by the owners of the SiGi Agricultural Company in collaboration with the students of the Agricultural Technical Institute of Macerata.

If you would like to contribute to expanding the descriptions of these varieties, you can send an e-mail to info@agricolasigi.it 

We launched the e-museum of ancient fruits thanks to a social farming project of the Marche region.  The translation is by komalingua

This project enabled five young people with cognitive impairments, aged 20 to 25, to work on the farm. They were selected by psychologists and Anffas social workers, supported by the professional educator Il Faro and supervised by UniMc researchers. Coldiretti Marche handled communication and distribution.

This unique and challenging project led to the creation of both a physical and virtual museum of ancient fruits in SiGi’s garden. This is not only a great honor but also a significant commitment that we are willing to continue with everyone’s support. You can contribute to our projects by choosing our products, or you can do so directly here:

 

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