Where do pears grow?

Pears are grown and harvested on almost every continent of the globe. The world's largest producers of pears are Italy, China and the United States. According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, the most familiar pear is Pyrus communis, which grows in the temperate zone of both hemispheres.

The Encyclopædia Britannica notes that Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, Spain and Turkey are also major pear-producing countries.

Pear fruit is soft and sweet. Pear trees come in both ornamental and fruit-bearing varieties. Pears are used in culinary applications or are served raw, but most are canned or used in desserts.