d'Anjou
Available as:
Stemilt & Artisan Organics
Facts of Interest: The Anjou pear is the most abundant winter pear variety in the United States. Also called the green Anjou and the d’Anjou, this variety is harvested green but its interior ripens over time into a sweet, juicy, flavorful pear.
The variety is believed to have originated near Angers, France. The small letter “d” in front of Anjou means "of" or "from," Hence, the d’Anjou is a pear from Anjou or Angers. Thomas Rivers, who was an author and pomologist, introduced the Anjou to England in the 19th century. It was brought to America by Col. Marshall P. Wilder around 1842, and it first produced fruit on his estate in 1845. The Anjou quickly became the standard for all winter pears because of its delicious flavor, its long shelf life, and its versatility for both fresh eating and cooking.
Anjous are recognizable by their egg-shaped appearance. They are good for baking, poaching, and roasting right before they are fully ripe. Look for Anjou pears year round in most grocery stores.
Pears
Characteristics
Appearance:
Full green color
Texture & Firmness:
Firm & dense; Juicy when ripe
Internal Character:
White to off-white
Flavor:
Very juicy with a sweet brisk flavor and subtle tartness
Shape:
Medium neck and pyriform shape
Size:
Medium to large
Uses:
Fresh out-of-hand, salads, baking & poaching
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!