"Five thousand Asian pear trees stretch across 18 acres at Pilot Mountain Pears, an orchard and working farm in Edneyville. Fruit hangs from the branches, waiting to be picked by farm visitors, many of whom are here to investigate what, exactly, an Asian pear is. Beth Laughter, the wife of farm owner David, describes the fruit as having the texture of an apple, but with a sweeter and juicier bite. Originally native to Japan and China, Asian pears hold their crisp texture long after they've been picked. "It's better than anything you'd get in the grocery store," says David, a fifth-generation fruit farmer. The pears are ready to be picked in August and can be enjoyed into the fall."