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 pear 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. They were discovered there 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 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!