Q: Could you tell me the best way to put our pears up? This is the first year our tree has produced and we want to enjoy the fruit all through the winter. We prefer pear preserves but any help would be appreciated.

A: I labored many hours over steaming cauldrons of pear preserves as a child. My thrifty mother canned tomatoes, peaches, pears, beans, okra and anything else that came from our huge garden. Pears, and most other fruit, are easy to can using a large metal boiler and glass jars. Rather than go through the steps, let me refer you to an excellent collection of University of Georgia online publications about preserving fruits and vegetables.

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