D'Anjou pears were brought to America from France in 1842 by Col. Marshall P. Wilder. The harvesting of d'Anjou pears begins in September, so the fruit is widely available in the winter. The pears are described as firm, dense, juicy and sweet with white insides. You can eat them fresh by themselves or in salads or baked goods.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's SuperTracker, a medium d'Anjou pear has only 96 calories. The pears are excellent sources of fiber with 5 grams per fruit, which is 21 percent of your daily fiber goal. Pears are also good sources of vitamin C. A medium pear supplies about 7 milligrams of the vitamin, or 9 percent of the recommend daily allowance. They are fat-free, sodium-free and cholesterol-free.