Red Bartlett
Available as:
Stemilt & Artisan Organics
Facts of Interest: The Red Bartlett, known also as 'Max Red', was first discovered as a bud sport on a regular Bartlett tree near Zillah, Washington in 1938.
The yellow Bartlett from which the red originated was first discovered in England and imported to the United States in the early 1800s. The bud sport that was discovered in Zillah is a naturally occurring transformation that occasionally develops on fruit trees. Often bud sports go unnoticed, and even when discovered, the resulting fruit is not always commercially viable. However, the red Bartlett sports were quite flavorful and marketable.
Aside from Max Red, 'Sensation' is another Red Bartlett cultivar that appeared in 1940 in Australia. Since then, the two strains have been used to propagate many other red pear varieties, and now there are several types of red pears produced in the Northwest.
Red and yellow Bartlett pears are virtually the same except for their color. Because of their flavor and sweetness, red Bartletts are a good, all-around choice for preserves, syrups and chutneys.
Characteristics
Appearance:
Red stripes over a green background to full brilliant red
Texture & Firmness:
Smooth
Internal Character:
Pale off-white flesh
Flavor:
Highly aromatic with a classic pear flavor
Shape:
A true pyriform (or pear shape)
Size:
Medium to large
Uses:
Great for fresh eating, in salads, pies and sauces as well as other recipes
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!