What other fruit pairs elegance with everyday availability like the pear? Sliced USA Pears elevate a cocktail-party charcuterie board or make a wholesome addition to lunchboxes. Behind every pear is a careful process of growing, harvesting, and handling that depends on skilled human hands.
Erica Bland is a fourth-generation pear grower who has helped run her family’s Washington farm for nine years and has leased her own orchards for four. While Washington is often associated with apples and cherries, the state—and neighboring Oregon—also produces most of the nation’s fresh pears. The ideal pear-growing region sits between the dry east and the wet coast, where volcanic soils, warm days, cool nights, and moderate rainfall create perfect conditions.
Growing pears requires constant adaptation. Crop cycles begin in the fall, but harvest timing varies every year. Although harvest typically runs through August and September, the exact start and duration depend on variety and yield. Erica’s orchards include Bartlett, d’Anjou, and Bosc (Golden Russet) varieties, one selection among roughly ten commonly grown pear types in the U.S.
An important—and perhaps surprising—step in pear production is fruit thinning. Instead of leaving as many pears on the tree as possible, growers remove many young fruits when they are about the size of a silver dollar. Proper spacing—about 10 to 12 inches—prevents pears from growing in tight clusters, which can stunt development or cause branches to sag and block sunlight. Smaller or out-of-spec fruits often find second lives in school lunch programs or are sent to be juiced.
“The human element that’s behind each and every pear that makes it to market is really amazing and profound.” – Lori Taylor
Harvest is another moment of uncertainty. Erica explains that you have to be ready to start picking as soon as field teams signal the timing. Pears are harvested entirely by hand; tractors are used only to move and stack bins for truck pickup. From orchard to packing shed, pears receive close attention—each piece is hand-selected and often wrapped in tissue before leaving the packing facility, frequently shipped to retailers the same day.
Did you know pears grown in Oregon and Washington account for around 87 percent of the U.S. fresh pear supply?
Because pears are delicate, they are usually harvested underripe so they can be shipped without bruising. At home, you can test a pear for ripeness by pressing gently with your thumb at the neck; if it yields slightly, it’s ready to eat. Until then, pears also make an attractive, decorative centerpiece while they finish ripening.
Erica’s favorite way to enjoy her family’s pears is in a pear pie—a cherished family recipe passed down from her great-aunt. She’s shared that she’s happy to provide the recipe to anyone who reaches out via her Instagram handle @e_bland. Neil, another pear fan, enjoys pears on pizza—paired with gorgonzola and walnuts or prosciutto—showing how versatile and balanced pear sweetness can be in savory dishes.
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