The relaxation of U.S. Department of Agriculture cold treatment requirements will bring more Argentine pears to the U.S. West Coast this season.

For the first time in several years, the Vancouver, BC- based Oppenheimer Group will receive its Argentine pears not only into East Coast ports, but also into the ports of Los Angeles and Seattle.

Oppenheimer, a veteran in the Argentine pipfruit marketing game, anticipates a moderate increase in its total volume this year. The fruit will be available in the second week of February, and the majority will be sold in the "Oppenheimer" brand.

"In the past, the USDA required that pears from Argentina undergo cold treatment protocols before entering the U.S.," Steve Gisler, East Coast pipfruit category coordinator for Oppenheimer, said in a statement. Now, the USDA has waived the need for cold treatment of Argentine pears because, through continuous monitoring, it is satisfied with the absence of Medflies in the growing region.

With ground transportation costs escalating, the opportunity to bring fruit directly to the West Coast is a significant benefit, according to Mr. Gisler.

"We can now serve our customers in the western states more efficiently and cost-effectively with fruit that arrives into L.A.," he said.

Oppenheimer's first Los Angeles shipment is expected in early March, and arrivals in the Seattle area are expected later that month.

Oppenheimer's pear program will focus on the Williams Bartlett, D'Anjou and Packham varieties.

"The market is very encouraging," Mr. Gisler said. "We believe a great opportunity for pears from Argentina exists this year. The Williams pear crop could be down 25 percent from last year, which will be reflected in higher f.o.b. pricing."

New this year, Oppenheimer is the exclusive marketer of Southern Hemisphere pears packed with the ripeSense sensor. These innovative packs contain four pears, and the sensor, located on the front of the pack to be easily spotted at retail, changes color when it detects the natural aromas released by the fruit as it ripens.

The sensor spot displays a range of colors, from red (for crisp pears) through orange (ripe) to yellow (fully ripe fruit at its juicy best).

Domestic pears have been sold with the ripeSense sensor since October, and retailers can continue the ripeSense program with uninterrupted supply from Oppenheimer beginning in late February.

"The ripeSense innovation aligns with our company's strategy to help our customers provide meaningful solutions for their shoppers," said John Anderson, Oppenheimer's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "This pear pack offers many benefits. Not only can the shopper easily gauge the ripeness of the pears, but the pack reduces food- safety risks as well as shrink at retail."

Once Oppenheimer's pear program is underway, the marketer will also receive modest volumes of Argentine Royal Gala, Fuji and Pink Lady apples. And Oppenheimer is looking ahead to further strengthening its pipfruit repertoire with apples and pears from Chile and New Zealand in early spring.