This project has a limited amount of pears (6) and time (two weeks). The three pears are sprayed with the same pesticides while the other three pears grew without the use of pesticides. However it is unknown whether the control pears (without the pesticides) have a small amount because of a wind factor.

The type of pesticide used, when it was sprayed and when the pear was picked is the information needed.

First wash the pears. One pear from each group will be chopped into bite sized pieces, placed into 2 bowls and covered with sugar water or a light corn syrup. The rest of the pears from each group will be left unpealed on four different plates. Place one bowl of chopped pears with pesticides and one bowl without pesticides in the cold room. The other bowls are left at room temperature. The plates of pears are also divided so that one pear with pesticides and one with out are in the cold room. Also place one of each whole pear with pesticide and without pesticide in the cold room and leave the two others at room temperature. At the end of the two weeks cut the whole pears in half length wise. use one half to gather samples using the colorimeter. Use the texture analyzer on the other half of the fruit. Run the same test with the chopped pears. i don't think there will be much of a difference between the fruit that was sprayed with pesticides and those that were not. However, the big difference will be in the amount of edible pears that are produced from each crop.

Updated: Monday, August 27, 2007.