The wax is not there for decoration or brand recognition. It is part of the caring ancient art of putting fruit by for winter. The ‘Passe Crassane,’ like many of the “winter” pears, does not ripen on the tree, however long you may let it hang. It ripens over a prolonged period of winter storage, slowly developing its heady pear perfume, and transforming its flesh from hard and grainy to silkily ripe and slippery with juice. The problem is, how do you prevent the pear from dehydrating before it ripens fully? Answer: seal the end of its stem with a blob of sealing wax. This prevents the loss of moisture, which in the pear occurs primarily through its thick stem. 2008-11-20T12:08:48Z http://www.frenchgardening.com/tech.html?pid=1139483932219159 jakesutton jakesutton