All About Pacific Northwest Pears: Taste, Nutrition, Recipes
Oct 04, 2018, Updated May 28, 2021
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We worked with our brand partner USA Pears to bring you this post celebrating the best pears on earth, Pacific Northwest pears!
Hooray! Pacific Northwest pears are back in season! If you are a pear-lover, you know how exciting this is. If you aren’t yet, let us help by pairing you with the pear for you. There are 10 varieties of USA Pears, each with its own distinctive color, flavor, and texture. With so many varieties to choose from, it’s a sure bet you can find one to love.
USA PEAR VARIETIES
Green Anjou
- Taste: Refreshingly sweet and juicy with a hint of citrus.
- In Season: September – July
- Pear-tastic Recipe: Green Anjou and Arugula Salad with Gorgonzola Dressing
Red Anjou
- Taste: Juicy with fresh, sweet, and slightly tangy flavor
- In season: September – June
- Pear-tastic Recipe: Red Anjou Pear Bites
Bartlett
- Taste: Signature sweet pear flavor and aroma with abundant juices
- In season: August – February
- Pear-tastic Recipe: Chocolate Pear Hand Pies
Red Bartlett
- Taste: Juicy and aromatic with abundant sweetness
- In season: August – December
- Pear-tastic Recipe: Smoky Red Pear and Grill Corn Salsa
Bosc
- Taste: Crispy and woodsy with a honey-sweetness
- In season: September – April
- Pear-tastic Recipe: Puff Pastry Tartlets with Roasted Pear, Caramelized Red Onion, Goat Cheese, & Spicy Honey Drizzle
Comice
- Taste: Succulent, buttery, and exceptionally sweet
- In season: September – February
- Pear-tastic Recipe: Pear Rice Pudding with Maple and Candied Pecans
Concorde
- Taste: Crunchy and sweet with a distinct vanilla flavor
- In season: September – December
- Pear-tastic Recipe: Roasted Pears with Camembert
Forelle
- Taste: Crisp, tangy, and refreshingly sweet
- In season: September – January
- Pear-tastic Recipe: Forelles Baked in Pastry
Seckel
- Taste: Bite-sized, crunchy, and ultra sweet
- In season: September – February
- Pear-tastic Recipe: Pickled Seckel Pears
Starkrimson
- Taste: Aromatic, juicy, and sweet with floral essence
- In season: August – November
- Pear-tastic Recipe: Starkrimson Pear Upside Down Cake
In addition to a being a sweet snack, there are endless ways to use pears in your cooking and baking. The USA Pears Pinterest page is a great place to find ideas and their website houses dozens of delicious recipes.
HOW TO TELL IF A PEAR IS RIPE & READY TO EAT
While Bartlett, Red Bartlett, and Starkrimson pears change color as they ripen, the other varieties show little change. The best way to tell if any variety of pear is ripe is to Check The Neck™. Using your thumb, apply gentle pressure to the neck of the pear (right under the stem). If it yields slightly to the pressure of your thumb, the pear is ripe.
Unripe pears can be stored at room temperature. Once pears are ripe, you can store them in the refrigerator to make them last longer.
PEAR NUTRITION
Sodium-free, fat-free, and cholesterol-free, a medium-sized pear contains just 100 calories and is packed full of minerals and vitamins. Pears are an especially good source of fiber and vitamin C. Because pears contain so much fiber and water, eating one can help you stay fuller faster and for longer.
PEAR EXPERTS
Did you know the U.S. is the third largest pear producing country in the world? USA Pears are grown in the Pacific Northwest (Washington and Oregon), and they produce 84% of the nation’s fresh pear crop. Nearly 900 dedicated growers tend to pear trees as a way of life. Many orchards have been in families for generations. USA Pear growers are experts in growing the most delicious pears in the world. Meet some of the growers here.
Which Northwest pear variety is your favorite? Which one have you not tried but are looking forward to trying this year? Let us know in the comments below.
