Concorde
Available as:
Stemilt & Artisan Organics
Facts of Interest: The Concorde pear was developed in England as a cross between the Conference and Comice varieties.
The Concorde inherited the shape of the Conference pear and the sweet, juiciness of the Comice. Conference pears are popular in Europe and have an elongated shape and russeted skin. The Comice is well-known in the United States and has a crisp texture.
Concorde pears do not dramatically change color as they ripen, retaining their green color even when ripe. It’s best to apply gentle pressure to the neck of the Concorde, and when it gives way, you know the fruit is ripe and ready to eat. Ripening brings out a more golden, slightly softer and mellower flavor. The Concorde’s dense flesh makes it an ideal pear for cooking as the fruit holds its shape and flavor in baking, poaching or in jams and preserves. Concordes are very slow to oxidize, or turn brown, when cut. This feature alone makes it an excellent pear for salads, fruit compotes and desserts.
Characteristics
Appearance:
Large and green with a elongated neck that becomes more yellow as it ripens
Texture & Firmness:
Crisp and dense flesh that becomes more tender and juicy as pear ripens
Internal Character:
White to off-white
Flavor:
Tender and juicy with a sweet vanilla-like flavor
Shape:
Long pyriform similar to conference or Bosc
Size:
Medium
Uses:
Fresh eating and as a dessert ingredient
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!