Pome Fruits
Pome fruits are members of the plant family Rosaceae, sub-family pomoideae. They are fruits that have a core containing several small seeds surrounded by a tough membrane.
Apples, fruit of the domesticated tree Malus domestica (family Rosaceae), are one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits. The apple is a pome fruit, in which the ripened ovary and surrounding tissue both become fleshy and edible. In the US, there are 2,500 varieties of apples are grown. Around the world, there are 7,500 varieties of apples grown, while commercially, only 100 varieties of the most widely consumed apples are grown in the US. The crabapple is the only type of apple native to North America.
Pears are included in the same genus as some 20–45 trees and shrubs in the rose family (Rosaceae), including the common pear (Pyrus communis). One of the most important fruit trees in the world, the common pear is cultivated in all temperate-zone countries of both hemispheres. Pears require full sun and well-drained soil to produce. There are six main states in the US that produce pears: California, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington. Of these states, California, Oregon, and Washington make up the majority of production.