With December recently declared 'National Pear Month' in the US by the United States Department of Agriculture, lovers of the fruit have been given an extra boost with the news that the Pacific Northwest – home to 84 per cent of the country's fresh pear production – has turned out a record crop this season.
'Ideal weather conditions, including just the right amount of rainfall, warm summer days and cool nights in Oregon and Washington's pear growing regions, led to a record sized crop of excellent quality,' said Kevin Moffit, president and CEO of industry promotional organisation Pear Bureau Northwest.
A broad range of pears are available during the holiday season, including the ten primary northwest-grown varieties of Red and Green Anjou, Bartlett and Red Bartlett, Bosc, Comice, Forelle, Seckel, Starkrimson and Concorde.
According to Mr Moffit, December is an ideal time to experiment with a broad range of pear varieties.
'Several new pear-centric cookbooks and recipes will help home cooks get creative with the bounty on the plate or on the table as a decoration,' he said.
Coinciding with National Pear Month, Pear Bureau Northwest has recently launched a redesign of the USA Pears website, which now includes recipes, varietal information, ripening and handling tips, and videos featuring growers from Washington and Oregon.
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