Stemilt Growers LLC couldn’t have ordered up a better pear season. “We’ve experienced higher-than-normal temperatures this spring which will bode well for summer varieties like Bartlett, which size up nicely in warm weather. Harvest will start about 10 days earlier than normal in early August thanks to an early spring and bloom,” said Director of Marketing Roger Pepperl.

Pears will soon be ripe for the picking. “The quality and sizing of the pear crop won’t disappoint. Varieties like Bartlett that take heat well may be up a size this year, and we expect slightly larger sizing on d’Anjou (winter pears) as well,” Pepperl said. “Our fruit comes straight from the Wenatchee and Entiat river valleys. These parallel regions stay cooler during the heat of the summer thanks to alpine mountains, creating an ideal environment for pears. The valleys have great air drainage through the orchard which always results in a clean, high-quality pear crop.”

The company’s “Rushing Rivers” pear brand, supported by a special video at social media sites, focuses on the two pristine rivers. “We know that consumers want to know where their food comes from and how it was grown. ‘Rushing Rivers’ provides retailers with that clear identification and helps them tell the great story of our pears with their shoppers,” he said. “We had a great introductory year last season and look forward to more promotions centered around this story in the coming year.”

Tosca is a newer pear variety at Stemilt. “It’s similar in flavor to Bartlett, but slightly earlier in timing. A fun niche program,” he said. Starkrimson, a red summer pear, is also up in volume, and Pepperl said it delivers an incredible eating experience.

Recent fires in Wenatchee, WA, affected Stemilt’s Miller Street facility. “We have a pear packingline there that won’t be in operation when the season begins,” he said. “Our longtime pear packing partners, Peshastin Hi-Up, will be adding shifts in order to pack all ‘Rushing Rivers’ pears. They are located right next to the pear growing districts, which means pears don’t have to travel far from farm to be packed.”

Pepperl said the company’s Lil Snappers program continues to enjoy success. The program is geared toward marketing kid-sized fruit delivering flavor and convenience in one pack.