Seckel
Available as:
Stemilt & Artisan Organics
Facts of Interest: Seckels are usually considered the smallest of all commercially grown pears. Seckels are also very sweet and are sometimes called “sugar pears.”
Seckels are believed by many to be the only truly American variety of pears in commercial production. Unlike other varieties developed in the U.S. from a cross or bud sport of other European cultivars, Seckels are thought to have originated as a wild seedling near Philadelphia in the early 1800's. However, some experts disagree with this theory and believe that German immigrants traveling westward through the Philadelphia area may have dropped the fruit or left seeds behind.
Whether the Seckel pear originated in the U.S., this bite-size variety has certainly become an American favorite. Seckel’s chubby, round shape; its small neck and very short stem make it a perfect lunchbox-size pear. It is also small enough to be canned whole. Seckel pears are usually green with a dark maroon blush that sometimes covers the entire surface of the pear.
Characteristics
Appearance:
Green with deep maroon blush to nearly all red
Texture & Firmness:
Flesh is slightly more dense and coarse than most other pears
Internal Character:
Off-white to pale yellow
Flavor:
Small yet extremely flavorful; considered the sweetest of all pears
Shape:
Chubby, round body, short neck and short stem
Size:
Very small
Uses:
Great snacking pear; Not well suited for recipes due to the small size
Artisan Organics is Stemilt’s banner for organic tree fruits. This label adorns all packaging and price look-up (PLU) stickers on Stemilt’s organic apples, pears, cherries and stone fruits.
Stemilt began major investments in organic tree fruit production back in 1989. At the time, farming organically on a large-scale was unheard of, since there were so few organic applications available. Despite the challenges, Stemilt founder Tom Mathison knew there was potential for organics in the marketplace and continued preparing Stemilt for future growth.
Because of Tom’s foresight, Stemilt gradually increased its organic presence, and today, is one of the nation’s leading shippers of organic tree fruits. Try Artisan Organics for a unique flavor experience that only natural farming methods can deliver!
Check out our Organic Leader page to learn more about what makes Stemilt a standout in the organic field!
Check out our Organic Leader page to learn more about what makes Stemilt a standout in the organic field!
Stemilt grows pears in Washington’s Wenatchee River Valley, an area known worldwide for its fertile soil and cool climate. Here, snow-capped, Alpine mountains rise behind rolling hills blanketed with pear orchards. Cooler temperatures and high-quality air drainage combine to create the premium quality of Stemilt’s numerous delectable pear varieties.
Pears are unique, in that, they are harvested at full maturity, but still may not be perfectly ripe when you take them home from the store. Stemilt believes that consumers shouldn’t have to wait to enjoy their pears. Our conditioning program, called RipeRite™, gets the ripening process started so you have ready-to-eat pears every time you shop.