Pear Month: A Small Family Farm Perspective
- Dani Annala
- Feb 3
- 3 min read
February is USA Pear Month, a time set aside to celebrate pears, the growers who raise them, and the industry that works year-round to bring this fruit to your table. As a small, family-run pear farm in Hood River, Oregon, I wanted to take part in this month in a way that feels true to who we are and why we farm.
For me, Pear Month isn’t just about promotion—it’s about proximity. Proximity to where food comes from, how it’s grown, and the people behind it.
Growing Up Close to Our Food
I grew up raising the bulk of our family’s food. Meats, vegetables, fruit—much 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 how I see food today—and it’s why preserving pears through canning still matters deeply to 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. That 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. But the reality is:
Crop size varies year to year
Consumer demand fluctuates
Retailers are managing their own margins and aiming to buy at the lowest possible price
When pears are sold, the order of payment matters:
The retailer gets paid
The packing house is paid
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 very 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 pearGently 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 because 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. I love them. And I especially love baking with them.
Which 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 made to help you enjoy pears with confidence.
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.
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
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