A GROUP of passionate pear lovers is promoting these unsung heroes of the fruit world. SARAH HUDSON reports

The Romans disliked eating them raw, preferring them stewed with honey.

They are a rich source of vitamins A and C, are said to lower high blood pressure and ripen faster if placed next to bananas in a fruit bowl.

The humble pear is, next to the apple, probably one of the unsung heroes of the fruit world - and Country Living is celebrating the fruit.

Just ask the matriarch of the pear world, Rien Silverstein, who is not only a grower but also the fruit's number one fan.

In April, Rien will hold a Pear Fest in Shepparton, Victoria, dedicated to the sweet morsel.

"Pear is my favourite fruit as it was the first fruit I was given as a baby, Beurre Bosc then. Now, I like the Josephine pear as my favourite," says Rien who, with her husband Maurice, runs a 34ha pear orchard, with apples, peaches and apricots as well.

"It will likely be the last fruit I eat when I am elderly as it is easy to digest and sweet - and it's available 10 months of the year."

She says the idea for the Pear Fest, which will run on Saturday, April 11 at the Shepparton Showgrounds, came from her voluntary Goulburn Valley Women in Horticulture Committee (GVWinHort).

Rien - a long advocate for rural women's issues - established the committee in 2002 to promote women and farming in the district and has held many successful events, from water information days to fashion parades and computer workshops.

"Early last year, the GVWinHort committee met and decided we wanted to help put Shepparton on the map for its pear growing.

"The Goulburn Valley grows 85 per cent of Australia's pears, supplying our processors, local and international markets and I think we should be known for that.

"I think it's important for Australia to value locally-grown produce."

So Rien and the committee decided the Pear Fest should be both for the farmer and the public.

As such, it will showcase all things pear: a school photography competition, local restaurant dishes, farm visits, farming issues - such as sustainability and survival in agriculture - and cooking tips and products, as well as a baking competition.

"Pears are a versatile fruit, you can eat them fresh, preserved or in a cake or pie. Our own pears have been converted to liquor and we enjoy the result very much."

Vying for the title of pear matriarch is local pear producer Vera Fleming who, with her husband Geoffrey, has a 22ha orchard and runs a cellar door jam-packed with gourmet fruit products.

Called Spirit of the Valley, the products include pear juice, pear liqueur - including the popular Pearfection, fruit pastes, as well as chocolate coated apples and jam - all sourced from fruit grown on the orchard.

And she is chief contender to take out the top baking prize at the Pear Fest (see recipe page for an upside down pudding recipe).

"Because they're so moist, pears are great for a pudding or cake," Vera says.

"And because they're low allergenic, many people who can't tolerate other fruit, eat pears."

Like Rien, Vera has also been heavily involved in agri-politics, at one point, sitting on reference and advisory committees.

However, in 2006 she wound back these commitments to focus on her own business.

"Rien and I are both passionate about our industry. We've both been involved at both the local and state level but I'm now focusing on the cellar door and value-adding."