Most pear varieties need to be “conditioned” for a time in order to ripen properly. Conditioning involves a period of cold treatment. The period of cold treatment varies according to the variety. Therefore, pick the pears as usual when they are mature but still firm. Then place them in the refrigerator. After 20 days take out a sample, say six, and place them on the kitchen counter. If they turn mealy and brown, they still need more chilling. Try again at 30 days and so on until you discover the proper conditioning time to induce proper ripening. Once the condition chill has been met, the pears will ripen properly. The chilling is a minimum requirement. You can hold the pears in the refrigerator for longer periods “in storage” and bring them out to soften as you need them.
