Quince
![Meech's Prolific quince, grown by Michael Cirone near San Luis Obispo.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b760fa1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x552+0+0/resize/586x552!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F29%2Fc4%2Ff11861d0bffea620516ee006bf66%2Fla-fo-1028-quince1-krkpyjnc.jpg)
Meech’s Prolific quince, grown by Michael Cirone near San Luis Obispo. (David Karp / For The Times)
![la-fo-1028-quince02-krkq0hnc.jpg](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3d2bbf7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x389+0+0/resize/586x389!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2Fa2%2Ff0800c34c45ae710b7ef7f59a78b%2Fla-fo-1028-quince02-krkq0hnc.jpg)
Smyrna quince -- large, fuzzy, pear-shaped and aromatic -- was imported by George Roeding from Turkey to Fresno in 1897 and is the second most common variety in commercial plantings in California. The fruit is grown at Stan Shamoon’s orchard in Navelencia, Calif. (David Karp / For The Times)
![la-fo-1028-quince03-krmb17nc.jpg](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f11dc5a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x391+0+0/resize/586x391!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F30%2F80%2F9ead79487dd9c6360aa44d7cda82%2Fla-fo-1028-quince03-krmb17nc.jpg)
Candied quince with ice cream. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
![la-fo-1028-quince04-krmb2ync.jpg](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/40b6a47/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x391+0+0/resize/586x391!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4e%2F99%2F88c7f706b0cb19714d364d078c8b%2Fla-fo-1028-quince04-krmb2ync.jpg)
Quince clafoutis. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)