Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) is a highly destructive bacterial disease of pome fruits including pears and quinces. USDA APHIS restricts or conditions imports from countries or regions where fire blight strains not present in the US have been detected, requiring phytosanitary certificates attesting to disease-free status and sometimes mandating inspection of orchards of origin. Importers should confirm that the exporting country's national plant protection organization has an approved systems approach or treatment protocol recognized by APHIS.

Variety is a primary price determinant: European varieties such as Bartlett (Williams), Bosc, and Anjou command different price points and are suited to different retail and food-service channels. Post-harvest treatments — including controlled-atmosphere storage, wax coatings, and fungicide applications — must comply with US EPA tolerances and FDA labeling requirements. Importers should request post-harvest treatment records from suppliers to ensure compliance and avoid rejection at retail.