Something to be Thankful for: Ripe Pears!

I bought these beautiful Bosc at the store on Sunday. They will be served as an hors d’oeuvre at Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma’s house, topped with parmesan cheese and wrapped in prosciutto (similar to these, but with my own twist). A light, yet savory-sweet prelude to our feast! To make sure that the pears are at their peak ripeness for the big day, with that honey-sweet flavor that Bosc is famous for, I’ve left them at room temperature in the fruit bowl on my kitchen counter.  I’ve been checking the neck daily, and they are going to be pear-fectly ripe for Thursday! Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn

Little Pear in the Big Apple

While Epicurious Entertained NYC, Anjoulina found a little time for sightseeing in Manhattan. Just in case it’s not obvious, Anjoulina is a Red Anjou pear – recently harvested and fresh at the grocery stores now!  Red Anjou pears are sweet and juicy, and add gorgeous color to any recipe – from salads and desserts to main courses.  Be sure to Check the Neck for Ripeness to get the best eating experience! And speaking of Epicurious – don’t forget to enter our recipe contest!  Visit the contest site to learn all about USA Pears and submit your culinary masterpiece for a chance to win a spa getaway for two to Oregon wine country! Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn

Check the Neck

Did you know that pears don’t ripen on the tree? They’re harvested when they’re mature, although not ripe. Once off the tree, they ripen from the inside out. If you want your pears to ripen, don’t keep them in the refrigerator. Instead, place them on the counter near other fresh fruits, like bananas, or in a brown paper bag. Bananas naturally give off a gas called ethylene that speeds up the ripening process. To tell if a pear is ripe, check the neck, or the stem end of the pear, by applying slight pressure with your thumb. If it yields, it’s ripe, sweet, and juicy! Here are some more quick tips: •    Most pears don’t change colors when ripening. Only the Bartlett pear changes from green to a bright yellow. •    Once a pear is ripe, it can be refrigerated Continue reading

Everyone Deserves a Ripe Pear

In Southest Asia, it’s only natural that people are more used to the Asian pear varieties, which are more crunchy than our USA Pears.  So we offer samples, hand out brochures, and use signs – like the one above from Taiwan – to teach shoppers in supermarkets and fruit shops how to Check the Neck for ripeness so that they can properly enjoy a sweet, juicy USA Pear.  Gently press the neck of the pear with your thumb, and when it slightly yields, it’s ready to eat! Notice that Perry is checking a Red Anjou pear – not a coincidence for Taiwan.  The red USA Pear varieties – mostly Red Anjou and Starkrimson – are unique and becoming more and more popular in Taiwan due to their auspicious color.  Red is lucky in many Southeast Asian countries, especially around Chinese Continue reading