Concorde (pear)

The Concorde is a cultivar of pear originating in England. A cross of the Conference and Comice varieties, it has some of the traits of both parents.

Concorde pear
Genus	Pyrus
Species	Pyrus communis
Hybrid parentage	Conference × Comice
Cultivar	Concorde
Origin	Kent, United Kingdom

Cultivar history

The Concorde was developed at the East Malling Research Station in Kent. After artificial pollination was completed in 1968, a number of candidate varieties were developed and the Concorde was selected as the best one in 1977. It was released commercially in 1994.^[1] It received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 1993.^[2]

Growing characteristics

The tree of the Concorde pear is upright and moderately vigorous. It flowers about five days after its parent varieties, and like the Comice is a late harvest pear.^[3] It is partially self-fertile, and is classed as group 3/4 in the RHS pollination groups. It is a regular cropper that can sometimes overproduce fruit, and it produces a first crop about a year earlier than most varieties.^[1]

Fruit characteristics

The Concorde's fruit is considered a blend of its parent varieties, with the elongated shape and crisp texture of its Conference parent combined with the sweetness of the Comice.^[4] The fruit has a greenish color initially, becoming more yellowish with ripening, and may exhibit slight russeting.^[1]