Since the dawn of civilization, the pear has enjoyed a fascinating and distinguished history. Scholars believe this popular fruit was originally cultivated in high mountain valleys between Russia and Turkey. Traveling with nomadic tribes, over the centuriesthe pear made its way across Europe and into Northern India. In recent years, evidence of pears has been discovered in many different parts of the world. SWITZERLAND Anthropologists in Switzerland found traces of a pear-like fruit while excavating Ice Age dwellings dating back ten thousand years. CHINA Pear seeds were discovered among burial artifacts in a tomb in China that dates from 2100 B.C. Official records documenting pear harvests first appeared around 1000 B.C ROME Ancient records indicate that the pear was an extremely popular fruit throughout the vast Roman Empire. The Romans used sophisticated grafting techniques to create as many as thirty-eight different pear varieties. GREECE In ancient Greece, Homer made reference to the pear in his writing, calling it "the gift of the gods." Even Aristotle and his students wrote extensively about the pear and its propagation. MODERN TIMES Pears were first introduced to the New World in the 17th century, arriving in North America with the early colonial settlers. Today, several thousand varieties of pears are cultivated worldwide.