Asian
Available as:
Stemilt & Artisan Organics
Facts of Interest: Asian pears comprise a large group of pear varieties having crisp, juicy fruit that is often described as tasting melon-like or floral. They are best for fresh eating and good in salads.
Asian pears have been grown commercially in Japan, Korea, China and other Asian countries for centuries. They were introduced into the U.S. in the 1800s, although their popularity has only grown in recent years. Unlike European varieties of pears such as Bartlett or Comice, Asian pears are ready to eat when harvested and hold their quality for several months with proper refrigeration. Their crisp texture remains unchanged after picking or storage. By comparison, European pear varieties do not ripen on the tree but require time after harvest to reach maturity.
There are three main types of Asian pears: round or flat with green to yellow skin; round or flat with russet-looking, bronze-colored skin; and pear-shaped with green or russet skin. The most common varieties of Asian pear are Hosui, 20th Century, Shinko and Kosui.
Characteristics
Appearance:
Full russet varieties have a beautiful cinnamon color
Texture & Firmness:
Crisp and juicy with a slight grainy texture
Internal Character:
Bright white to pale yellow
Flavor:
Very juicy with complex melon-like flavors
Shape:
Round to slightly flat
Size:
Medium to large
Uses:
Salads, snacks; A unique texture makes these fruits a real treat
Artisan Organics is Stemilt Growers’ banner for organic tree fruits. This label adorns all packaging and price look-up stickers on Stemilt’s organic apples, pears, cherries, and stone fruits.
We began major investments in organic tree fruit production back in 1989. That’s when Stemilt founder Tom Mathison launched his Responsible Choice program, urging growers and company managers to look for ways to conserve natural resources and reduce synthetic materials in all our growing and packing operations.
Since that year, Stemilt has become a national leader in organic tree fruit production and packing:
• Artisan Organics are grown with tree and soil balance in mind.
• Natural tree and soil balance encourages the orchards’ innate defenses, creating tastier fruit that needs no synthetic fertilizers.
• Artisan Organics are farmed 100% organically so there is no residue on the fruit.
• Artisan Organics come from modern orchards that use the latest growing and harvesting techniques.
Stemilt’s Artisan Organics are grown with extreme care. See and taste the difference that our natural farming methods produce.
Check out our Organic Leader page to learn how we grow and pack organic fruit and what makes Stemilt a standout in the organic field!
Stemilt grows pears in Washington’s Wenatchee River Valley, an area known ‘round the world for its ideal soil and climate for pears. Snow-capped, Alpine mountains rise behind the rolling hills blanketed with pear orchards. It’s here where the cooler temperatures of the Valley create the premium quality in Stemilt’s numerous delectable pear varieties.
Most pears are harvested green so when you take them home, you wait...and wait...until they ripen. But Stemilt’s pear conditioning program gets the ripening process started so you have ready-to-eat pears every time you shop. Look for Stemilt’s ripened pears in your favorite grocery store, and don’t forget to take home some Artisan Organics pears, too!