As autumn arrives, Pacific Northwest orchards are bursting with fresh pears and kicking off the fall harvest season to fill produce shelves across America with a versatile, flavorful and fiber-filled fruit.
This year’s pear harvest is brimming with quality, reflecting the dedication and expertise of Pacific Northwest pear growers, many of whose families have farmed the region for multiple generations.
This year’s harvest of fresh pears is estimated to reach 15.2 million standard box equivalents, which is consistent with the industry’s four-year average.
The organic pear harvest is expected to come in at an estimated 1.9 million standard boxes equivalents, making up about 12.5% of the total projected Northwest crop.
The Pacific Northwest boasts more than 10 varieties of pears and harvest began in late August for summer varieties like Starkrimson and Bartlett.
Growers began picking Bosc, green Anjou and red Anjou in early September.
Specialty pears — like Comice, Seckel, Forelle and Concorde — will also be available in September, providing an exceptional assortment of unique and flavorful pear choices for shoppers.
A high-fiber fruit with an extended shelf life
Pears rank higher than almost any other fruit when it comes to dietary fiber, with just one medium-size pear containing 6 grams or 21% of the recommended daily value.
Pears also boast an extended shelf life, making fresh USA Pears available nearly year-round and helping consumers plan ahead, minimize food waste and enjoy fresh pears at their peak.
How to store and ripen pears
Pears are among the few fruits that don’t ripen on the tree. Rather, they are harvested at maturity and then ripen when stored at room temperature.
This makes pears a perfect choice for decorative fruit bowls or weekend produce shopping that will last throughout the week.
To determine when a pear is at its juiciest, USA Pears suggests to “check the neck.”
If a pear yields when gentle pressure is applied with a thumb to its neck near the stem, then it’s ripe and ready to eat.
Once ripe, pears can be stored in the refrigerator to extend the fruit for a few more days.
To learn more about the health benefits of pears and explore recipes, visit USAPears.org.