"Winter pear" tree varieties for Vancouver BC area

[tiger_lily]

When I was a kid, we had what my parents referred to as a "winter pear" tree on our property, which bore fruit very late in the year, and the pears, when fully ripe & sweet, were crunchy, not soft.

Does anyone know of a pear variety which is like this, which may be suited to our area? I remember especially liking the crunchiness of the pear, and would love to have such a tree.

[Ron B]

WSU is testing Bosc at the Mt Vernon station for its commercial potential on local sites. They describe this one as an

"Old French
variety, classic late dessert pear; russet
brown skin, rich buttery flavor, firm almost
crisp flesh and pleasant aroma, also good
for culinary use (baking, poached pears);
excellent late keeper"

in this publication:

http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublicatio...937/eb0937.pdf