Leiria | National association of rocha pear

Rocha Pear, Pyrus communis L., is a yellow to light green pear of extremely pleasant taste, with a white, firm, sweet and juicy pulp and a long shelf life.

Product description and characteristics:

Portugal produces an average of 200,000 tons of Rocha Pear annually, making it the largest Portuguese horticultural export.

This variety of pears has a yellow to light green pulp, pear-shape, and an average size of 55-65mm, a thin and smooth skin and a characteristic brownish color around the peduncle. It has an extremely pleasant taste, a white, firm, sweet and juicy pulp and a long shelf life.

Rocha Pear is a very nutritious fruit, rich in vitamins, antioxidants and fiber (in the skin). It can be eaten fresh, whether it is ripe (extremely soft) or unripe (crisp). When ripe, it should be eaten on a plate, with cutlery. It can also be eaten after being processed, in syrup or cooked. It is an excellent option for dessert or as a snack between meals.

It is a protected fruit, grown under tight control, using integrated production systems and sustainable environmental protection measures. It holds the title of Protected Designation of Origin (DOP), ensuring its peculiar and unique characteristics and that it is grown in a specific region and according to the know-how of its people.

Growing/production area

Rocha Pear is grown in the counties of Sintra (where it originated), Cadaval, Bombarral, Torres Vedras, Caldas da Rainha, Alcobaça, Lourinhã, Óbidos and Mafra. However, the largest production of this variety of pear happens in the western counties, mainly Cadaval (2,073he) and Bombarral (1,934he).

History

This variety of pear was first identified in 1836. António Pedro Rocha, horse and carriage dealer, found an unusual variety of pear in his land in Ribeira de Sintra: it was medium-sized, with its characteristic brownish color around the peduncle and a thin and smooth skin; it had a soft and grainy texture and an ever-sweet taste (whether eaten ripe or unripe). It was very resistant to handling, and although it needed some particular growth conditions, the grafts prospered and Rocha Pear growth site expanded to the western region of Portugal.

Contacts

Estrada Municipal 612, km 4, Sobrena

2550-458 Peral Cadaval

Portugal

Phone nr: (00351) 262 691 205 / (00351) 916 781 011

anp@perarocha.pt