Chelan Looks Forward to Pear Season

With Bartletts ready to ship, Chelan Fresh Marketing is looking forward to a great 2013 pear season, according to Marketing Director Mac Riggan. “Our Bartletts are available starting Aug. 18,” he says, noting this season’s crop is presenting good volume and clean fruit in all varieties. As the summer Bartletts ramp up, Chelan Fresh will begin shipping Bosc, Comice and Concorde pears Sept. 1, followed by Green D’Anjous on Sept. 4 and Red D’Anjous on Sept. 9. “We’re excited about this year’s pear program on several levels,” says Riggan. “We continue to offer ripened Red and Green D’Anjous on demand through spring 2014. “In addition, all our varieties will be available at retail in the Fuel Up to Play 60 3-pound poly bags,” he adds. The innovative and interactive program combines activity and healthy lifestyle choices in schools across the nation. With the involvement of companies such as Chelan Fresh Marketing of Chelan, Wash., Fuel Up to Play 60 provides curricula and activities designed to improve nutrition and increase physical activity at and away from school. According to FUTP 60, “The ultimate goal is to ensure changes made at school are sustainable, making it possible for children to have more opportunities to be physically active and choose tasty, nutrient-rich foods throughout the school environment.” Added potential for the 2013 pear season also comes from export possibilities, says Riggan. “The access available to China is every exciting. Chinese consumers people seem to love red pears, and this inroad could be very big for pears across the board as we ship to that country this season.” Chelan Fresh is also building its organic pear category, with limited volumes of certified Bartlett, Concorde, Starkrimson, Red and Green D’Anjou and Golden Bosc varieties available this season.