FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2008
www.stemilt.com
Contact: Roger Pepperl
Marketing Director
Stemilt finds success with diverse pear program
WENATCHEE, Wash.—As one of the leading growers, packers, and shippers of Northwest pears, Stemilt Growers continues to find success with its diverse pear program. The program offers consumers a wide selection of organic, classic, and specialty pears, many of which are ripe and ready-to-eat when they get home.
According to Stemilt marketing director Roger Pepperl, Anjou pears are one of the few fruits that do not ripen before they reach full maturity on the tree. In the past, it could take days for pears to ripen after buying them from the store, and oftentimes people found it difficult to tell if the pear was ripe by its appearance. Consumers were also left dissatisfied as pears turned out dry or pulpy rather than sweet and juicy.
About five years ago, Stemilt responded to these issues by developing a ripening program for pears, similar to an existing process for bananas. The program helps retailers boost their pear categories by producing uniformly ripened pears that consumers can eat immediately after purchasing, Pepperl said.
Prior to packing, pallets of pears are brought to Stemilt’s pear ripening center. They are placed in an environmentally controlled room where quality control experts monitor the humidity and temperature of the room and conduct pressure tests on the pears. Once the pears reach the optimal temperature, ethylene—a naturally occurring gas found in plants and flowers—is released into the room and stimulates ripening in the pears. Finally, pears are moved into a room where they cool down and are shipped out.
“The appeal of ripe and ready-to-eat pears excites consumers,” said Pepperl. “Retailers can use pre-ripened pears as a tool to boost their pear category. Also, pear consumers will frequent the produce department more because they will not be waiting for their pears to get ripe.”
Stemilt packs pears in conjunction with Peshastin Hi-Up Growers, a Washington based co-op. Together, the two companies have some of the best pear ground in the world, with orchards located throughout the Wenatchee River Valley region. It’s fertile soil and ideal climate conditions have improved the quality of d’Anjou pears over the years.
“Many of our pear orchards sit beneath high altitude mountains that produce cooler temperatures and good air drainage, creating an environment perfectly suited for growing d’Anjous and other pear varieties,” Pepperl said.
Stemilt also grows pears in the Entiat River Valley, which is parallel to Wenatchee. This narrow river valley is a wonderful pear region where the majority of Stemilt’s organic pears are grown. Currently, Stemilt offers organic pears in several varieties, all packaged under the Artisan Organics label.
The diverse pear program at Stemilt would be incomplete without specialty varieties, such as Concorde, Starkcrimson, Seckel, Taylor’s Gold, and Comice. Throughout the fall and into the early winter, classic varieties like Green and Red Bartlett’s, Bosc, and Red Anjou’s are available.
Stemilt offers retailers POS materials to assist in educating consumers about niche varieties, Pepperl said. In addition, Stemilt has guides to selecting wine, cheese and pear complements.
“The possibility for marketing pears is endless,” Pepperl said. “Our diverse pear program has provided our customers with a one-stop shop for all their pear needs.”