Celebrating Pear Month: A Journey from Our Orchard to Your Table

February is USA Pear Month, a time dedicated to celebrating pears, the dedicated growers who cultivate them, and the industry that works tirelessly to bring this delicious fruit to our tables. As a small, family-run pear farm in Hood River, Oregon, I wanted to participate in this month in a way that reflects our values and the reasons we farm.

For me, Pear Month isn’t just about promotion—it’s about proximity. It’s about understanding where our food comes from, how it’s grown, and the passionate people behind it.

Growing Up Close to Our Food

I grew up raising much of our family’s food. Meats, vegetables, fruit—most of what we ate came directly from our land or our community. Alongside that came the responsibility of preserving food. I learned the value of canning at a young age, standing in the kitchen, watching jars seal, and understanding that food was seasonal, precious, and worth the effort.

That early education shaped my perspective on food today. It’s why preserving pears through canning still holds deep significance for me.

I’ve previously shared our family orchard story and how it led to the launch of our canned pear line, Herb’s Harvest. 👉 [Link to orchard story blog post]

Today, I want to share a little more about what pear farming actually looks like behind the scenes.

What It Means to Be a Price Taker

Pear growers are what’s called price takers. This means we don’t set the price for our fruit.

Each fall, we harvest our pears and send them to the packing house. From there, they are:

• Stored

• Sorted

• Packed

• Sold to retailers

  
  

The marketing teams at packing houses have the incredibly challenging job of moving the entire crop at a fair price. However, the reality is:

• Crop size varies year to year

• Consumer demand fluctuates

• Retailers manage their own margins and aim to buy at the lowest possible price

  
  

When pears are sold, the order of payment matters:

1. The retailer gets paid first.

2. The packing house is paid next.

3. The grower gets paid last.

   
   

For the 2025 pear crop, our final payment will likely arrive in October 2026—a full year after harvest. While payments come in throughout the year, there’s little certainty about what those payments will look like until they actually arrive.

I’m a numbers person. I’ve built spreadsheets upon spreadsheets, analyzing historic trends and predicting income based on years of data. My husband and I regularly adjust those projections based on:

• How pear movement is going

• Pricing conversations

• General industry talk

  
  

But in recent years, even my most reliable spreadsheets have become… unreliable. That’s the reality of being a price taker.

Why Pears Are Worth It Anyway

Despite the challenges, pears are truly a remarkable fruit. They’re:

• A great source of fiber

• Naturally sweet

• Gentle on digestion

• Packed with vitamins and antioxidants

  
  

But pears are also not an easy fruit, and that’s where the consumer experience matters.

How to Have a Good Pear Experience

Unlike apples, pears are usually not ready to eat right away. They ripen from the inside out, which can be confusing if you don’t know what to look for.

Here’s the key tip:

• Check the neck of the pear. Gently press near the stem—if it gives slightly, the pear is ripe and ready to eat.

  
  

Most packing houses aim to deliver fruit that will ripen beautifully at home. When someone has a bad pear experience, they often don’t buy pears again. Storage conditions, timing, and handling all affect that experience, which is why it can vary from store to store.

A little education goes a long way with pears.

Pears in Our Home

Pears are one of my favorite snacks to serve my kids. They love them, and I love them too. I especially enjoy baking with them.

This brings me to why I’m celebrating Pear Month in my own way.

Four Favorite Pear Recipes + A Thank You

Throughout Pear Month, I’m sharing four of my favorite pear recipes—simple, approachable, and designed to help you enjoy pears with confidence.

👉 [Download the free pear recipe collection HERE]

As a thank you for joining me, once you download the recipes, you’ll also receive a FREE shipping code for Herb’s Harvest canned pears—our way of sharing a piece of our orchard with your kitchen.

👉 Shop Herb’s Harvest Canned Bartlett Pears

Why Pear Month Matters to Me

Pear Month is a reminder that behind every piece of fruit is a long timeline, a lot of uncertainty, and a deep commitment to feeding people well.

If this month helps even one person feel more connected to their food, more confident buying pears, or more curious about where their fruit comes from—then it’s worth it.

Thank you for being here and for supporting small family farms like ours.

-Dani