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History

Its no surprise Asian pears suffer from an identity crisis. Are they apples or pears? Like apples, they ripen on the tree and have a crisp, firm texture, but they have juicy, white flesh with the flavor and fragrance of pears. The Asian pear is a member of the “Family of Flowering Plants” (Rosaceae; Rose, Peach, Apple, Pear, Strawberry family). Other names that this fruit goes by are: Chinese pear, Japanese pear, and apple pear. Since their introduction to this country more than 100 years ago, these fruits have commonly been known as apple pears.

Variety

In China, Japan, and Korea, hundreds of different varieties are cultivated, and even in this country, a few dozen varieties are now available. Among these are Hosui, Atago, Shin Li, Niitaka, and Shinsetsu.

Locally Grown

Flavor can vary depending on climate and harvest time, summer warmth helps to sweeten flavor. Fruit Patch grows Asian pears only on the best Class 1 soils for optimum growth and production. Class 1 soils are defined as deep, fine-sandy loam soils with good internal drainage. The San Joaquin Valley (Fresno, Kings, Merced, Tulare, Kern, Madera, San Joaquin Counties) is the largest growing region of Asian pears in California. Fruit Patch has steadily increased its Asian pear acreage over the years to become one of the larger Asian pear growers and shippers in the United States. For 2004 Variety Availability, please click here.

Season & Availability Asian pears reach optimum quality when allowed to ripen on the tree. Asian pears will be crisp and juicy when harvested. Harvest season in California is from mid July through October.

Nutrition Asian pears are uniquely delicious, with the shape and crunchiness of an apple, and the russeted skin and flavor of a pear. Asian pears are deliciously sweet and low in acidity, and each variety has a distinct bouquet. Asian pears contain about 16 percent carbohydrates and are very low in fat. They are a good source of vitamin B and also contain vitamin C. Detailed nutritional information can be found by searching the USDA Nutritional Database. Enter “Asian pear ” (no quotes) as the keyword and select the link and report of interests.

Did You Know? You can use Asian pears in salads, slaws, soups, and sandwiches.

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