A Pear Guide

There are over 3,000 known pear varieties grown around the world, but only a handful of heirloom varieties have been carefully cultivated into the juicy, delicious fruit known as Northwest–grown USA Pears. Each has a distinctive character, texture, and flavor. Try them all to find your favorites!

Green Anjou
In Season: September - July
Flavor Profile: refreshing, sweet, juicy, with a hint of citrus

The Anjou is an all-purpose pear whose dense flesh makes it excellent for snacking, cooking, and slicing fresh into salads or over a bowl of oatmeal. Its skin color remains green as it ripens, so Check the Neck for Ripeness!

Red Anjou
In Season: September - May
Flavor Profile: aromatic, juicy, fresh and sweet

Sweet and succulent when ripe, red Anjou pears have a refreshingly sweet flavor and moist texture similar to their green counterparts. Their gorgeous maroon red skin adds a burst of color to salads, desserts, and entrees.

Bartlett
In Season: August - February
Flavor Profile: signature pear flavor with abundant juice

The Bartlett pear is unique in that its color turns from bright green to golden yellow as it ripens. Its creamy, sweet and aromatic flesh is perfect for eating fresh, as well as for canning or adding to salads or desserts.

Red Bartlett
In Season: August - January
Flavor Profile: juicy and sweet with a floral essence

Red Bartlett pears turn a gorgeous bright red as they ripen, and have a smooth, sweet, and juicy flesh. These delicious pears add a colorful pop to salads and desserts, and create a pretty pink hue when pureed or juiced with their skin intact.

Bosc
In Season: September - April
Flavor Profile: crisp, woodsy and honey-sweet

Bosc pears are easily identified by their long, tapered necks, long stems, and skin that is naturally russeted to a cinnamon brown color. They have a dense, fragrant, honey-sweet flesh with a smooth texture that holds its shape well when heated. It is an excellent choice for eating fresh as well as for cooking.

Comice
In Season: September - March
Flavor Profile: succulent, buttery, and exceptionally sweet

Comice pears have a full, round shape with a short neck and stem. They are most often green and sometimes have a red blush in spots. This succulent pear has a custardy flesh and a mellow sweetness that makes it an elegant dessert pear which is also delicious when paired with cheese.

Concorde
In Season: September - February
Flavor Profile: crunchy, earthy with a hint of vanilla

The Concorde pear is known for its tall, elongated neck and firm, dense flesh. Its skin is golden green and oftentimes has golden yellow russeting in spots. Its vanilla-sweet flavor and firm texture holds up well in heated applications, and it is also excellent for snacking.

Forelle
In Season: October - March
Flavor Profile: crisp, tangy, and refreshingly sweet

The Forelle is an uncommon variety known for its smaller size and its unique yellow-green skin that is naturally decorated with crimson freckles. It has a crisp texture even when ripe, and is perfect for snacking, cooking, and pairing with wine and cheese.

Seckel
In Season: September - February
Flavor Profile: bite-sized, crunchy, and ultra-sweet

Seckel pears are easily recognized by their small size and olive-green skin with a maroon blush. Known for their crunchy flesh and ultra-sweet flavor, they are an excellent choice for children’s snacks, pickling, or garnishing.

Starkrimson
In Season: August – January
Flavor Profile: aromatic, moist and sweet with a floral essence

The Starkrimson pear is named for its brilliant crimson red color, which brightens as it ripens. It has a smooth flesh, sweet flavor, and a subtle floral aroma, making it perfect for snacking, salads, or any fresh use that shows off the brilliance of its skin.

USA Pears Bureau