Trees of Cornishgold, an historic juicing and cooking pear variety that has been revived by Worcestershire tree nursery Frank P Matthews Ltd, will be available this autumn to commercial growers.
Discovered in Launceston, Cornwall, the Treburrow Pear, as it was first known, stood in the kitchen garden of an historic farmhouse. For centuries, this ancient tree thrived unnoticed, bearing fruit with a mellow sweetness and outstanding juicing qualities. In 2015, its hidden legacy was uncovered by renowned pomologist Dr. Joan Morgan, captivated by its unique character. DNA testing confirmed that it was unlike any other known variety. Determined to preserve this remarkable pear for future generations, Frank P Matthews took grafts from the original tree, carefully propagating them into what is now known as Cornishgold, named for its radiant golden fruit and its Cornish heritage.
Stephanie Dunn James of Frank P Matthews expressed her excitement about bringing this historic pear back to life: “Cornishgold is more than just a new pear variety, it’s a piece of living history. The story behind it is truly fascinating, and we’re honoured to be the ones preserving and sharing this golden treasure. It’s a must-have for anyone who loves unique, heritage fruits with real character”. She added, “This original pear tree was growing in acidic soil, so it’s fantastic for growing in poor conditions. And there are no signs of pests and diseases even though the stock is 300 years old. It’s not a traditional dessert pear, it’s very much a juicing/culinary pear, but a lot of people are planting such varieties now on farms, such those investing in agroforestry”.
