A club variety with its own identity
Elliot® (marketed as Selena® in organic production) is a European pear variety (Pyrus communis) originating in California, selected at the University of California, Davis, with the aim of obtaining a fire-blight-resistant pear. It comes from the cross 'Elliot No. 4' × 'Vermont Beauty' and was introduced to Europe in 1991 by the French nurseryman Benoit Escande, who manages its rights as a club variety. It adapts particularly well to warm climates and delivers excellent results in the Girona and Lleida regions.
Why importers choose Elliot®
Very sweet (16°+ Brix)
Aromatic, balanced flavour with buttery, juicy, fine-grained flesh and moderate acidity (~3.5 g/l).
Large size
Large fruit (190–260 g on average; dominant size 75/80 mm), elongated conical shape and attractive golden skin.
Fire-blight tolerant
Resistant to Erwinia amylovora and low scab sensitivity: ideal for conventional and organic production.
Exceptional storage
Up to April in cold storage (~5 months at -0.5 °C) and excellent shelf life once out of the cold chain.
Adapted to warm climates
Stable colour and quality in Mediterranean and southern areas where other varieties struggle.
Productive and fertile
Early bearing, abundant annual crop; the tree self-regulates and needs little thinning.
Technical specifications
| Variety | Elliot® / Selena® (Pyrus communis) — club variety |
|---|---|
| Genetic origin | 'Elliot No. 4' × 'Vermont Beauty' — UC Davis (California, USA) |
| Skin | Greenish-yellow turning golden when ripe, with a slight pink blush and medium-to-strong russeting |
| Flesh | White-yellow, buttery, juicy, fine-grained |
| Size | Large (190–260 g on average); dominant size 75/80 mm |
| Brix | Minimum 16°+ Brix |
| Acidity | Medium, ~3.5 g/l |
| Harvest | Early September (northern hemisphere) |
| Storage | Until April in cold store (~5 months at -0.5 °C); good post-harvest shelf life |
| Resistance | Fire-blight tolerant; low scab sensitivity |
| Pollinators | 'Doyenné du Comice', 'Williams Bon Chrétien', among others |
| Commercial origin | Spain / Catalonia |
Elliot® vs Conference: why Elliot wins
Conference is the benchmark pear in the European market, but Elliot® beats it on the parameters importers value most: more disease resistance, higher sugar and larger size, with equally long storage.
Elliot® 🍐
Fire-blight tolerant · 190–260 g size · golden skin · adapted to warm climates
Conference
Fire-blight sensitive · medium size · elongated bronzed skin · market benchmark
| Parameter | Elliot® | Conference |
|---|---|---|
| Brix (sugar) | 16°+ ▲ | 11°+ |
| Fire-blight resistance | Tolerant ▲ | Sensitive |
| Average size | Large (190–260 g) ▲ | Medium |
| Warm-climate adaptation | Very good ▲ | Limited |
| Cold storage | Until April (~5 months) | Long |
| Flesh & flavour | Buttery, very aromatic ▲ | Fine, juicy |
| Suitable for organic | Yes (Selena®) ▲ | Needs more treatments |
Indicative values based on technical and pomological sources; they may vary with the harvest, the soil and post-harvest handling.
Harvest, conditioning and storage
Harvest takes place in early September. After cold storage, all the fruit takes on a uniform bronzed appearance. Its long post-harvest life allows it to be kept in good condition until April in cold storage and, once out of the cold chain, it keeps its firmness for many days. Correct conditioning of the fruit is key to reaching its full eating quality —a process Frifruit masters thanks to its experience with the variety.
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