Organic Pears Ripe for Promotion

With an organic pear crop that is significantly larger than last year’s production, Pacific Northwest growers have been harvesting for the past month and will have solid supplies for fall and holiday promotions.

“From a Northwest industry perspective, supplies are going to be good for organic pears, and organic pears always need promotion during their season,” said Stemilt Growers marketing director Brianna Shales. “The September 1 crop estimate has the industry increasing in organic pear supplies over last year by 21 percent.”

Brianna Shales, Marketing Director, Stemilt Growers

Stemilt will have fewer organic pears than a year ago because of acreage transitions, but the longtime grower-shipper will still have a good share of the industry’s organic pears. “Pears are challenging to grow organically, and having the right site and growing conditions is important,” Shales said.

Retailers will have many options when promoting organic pears as increased organic production is higher across all the core varieties: Bartlett up 12 percent, Anjou up 21 percent, Bosc up 29 percent, and Red Anjou up a whopping 86 percent. When it comes to Stemilt's offerings in particular, the company will have a similar increase over last year on organic Bartlett but fewer of the other three main varieties.

“Pears are challenging to grow organically, and having the right site and growing conditions is important.” - Brianna Shales

Shales reiterated that promotion is critical for the organic pear category. “It’s important to make them part of the plan during key holiday months and especially around National Pear Month in December when display space increases and promotions are frequent,” she said.

Chuck Sinks, president of sales and marketing for Sage Fruit Company in Yakima, WA, said his company will have a greater supply of organic pears this season. “With the addition of Chelan Fruit for the 2022-2023 pear season, Sage Fruit will see a significant increase in volume of organic pears. We are looking forward to the opportunity to partner with Chelan Fruit this season, and with this increase in organic pear volume, we will be better positioned to fulfill our customers’ pear needs.”

Chuck Sinks, President of Sales and Marketing, Sage Fruit Company

Sage Fruit grows organic pears in several regions throughout the Pacific Northwest including the Yakima Valley, Mid-Columbia, and up through Wenatchee, with its top organic varieties also being Bartlett, Green D’Anjou, Red D’Anjou, and Bosc.

“With the addition of Chelan Fruit for the 2022-2023 pear season, Sage Fruit will see a significant increase in volume of organic pears. We are looking forward to the opportunity to partner with Chelan Fruit this season, and with this increase in organic pear volume, we will be better positioned to fulfill our customers’ pear needs.” - Chuck Sinks

The Bartlett harvest is underway, with the other varieties following closely behind in September, Sinks said. The overall pear harvest is expected to finish in October, with the crop being sold from storage for the next year.

“This season, peak sizing will be about a size down from the 2021-2022 crop. We will see considerable volume of 100s and 110s, which lends well to bag promotions at retail,” Sinks said. “One thing a retailer can do to sell more pears is communicate to the consumer how to select and store them. Pears are mature but not necessarily ripe when they are sold. It's important consumers know when a pear is ripe to ensure they enjoy them. If a consumer has a favorable experience, they will become a repeat customer.”

“Pears are mature but not necessarily ripe when they are sold. It's important consumers know when a pear is ripe to ensure they enjoy them.” - Chuck Sinks

Jim Morris, marketing communications manager for Pear Bureau Northwest (PBNW), confirmed that the industry’s September crop estimate shows a significant increase for organic pear production, even though the total crop is about the same size as last year.

Jim Morris, Marketing Communications Manager, Pear Bureau Northwest

The industry’s fresh pear estimate for 2022/23 is 16.24 million standard box equivalents compared to 16.29 million boxes in the recently completed 2021/22 season. Last season, about 1.5 million boxes of organic pears were sold, while this year’s estimate is for 1.8 million. Last season, organic pears represented about 9.2 percent of the crop, and this year they are expected to represent 11.2 percent of total NW pear volume.

PBNW will be promoting the crop through digital marketing channels as well as in-store displays across the US and Canada. Morris said the organization works directly with retailers to customize promotional opportunities. PBNW does offer display bins with bright, attractive graphics and organic-specific point of sale material.

The industry’s September crop estimate shows a significant increase for organic pear production, even though the total crop is about the same size as last year.

“While pears are incredibly versatile and can be used in a wide variety of cooking applications, we are focusing on showcasing the simple application of pears to everyday dishes as a way to enhance recipes for any meal,” said Morris. “Special promotions will include our annual celebration of Pear Pizza during October for National Pizza Month, World Pear Day on December 3, and baking and entertaining during the holidays.”