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Driving
down the highway in Kelsyville with Bartlett pear orchards
on each side of the vehicle is absolutely breathtaking. California
Summer Bartletts come from two major growing districts. The
early “River Pears” grown along the Sacramento
River in both Sacramento and San Joaquin counties come to us
in July and the latter “Mountain Pears” that are
grown in Mendocino, Lake and El Dorado Counties begin harvest
at the beginning of August.
These self pollinating trees are in production for an average
of 50 to 75 years and some trees still produce up. The fruit
of the pear tree never ripens on the branch, only after it is
picked or it falls will it ripen and become golden in color so
growers when it is green, but fully mature.
All California Bartletts are harvested by hand, placed in bins,
and transported to a packing house where they are graded for
quality and sorted by size. The pears are then brought to room
temperature and held for four to six days until the ripeness “come
on.” They are then ready for fresh market or processing.
Unlike Northwest variety pears California Summer bartletts are
ripe when gold in color and have a fair give to them. At that
time only should they be refrigerated. If they get overripe and
mushy, don’t throw them out! You’ve the perfect base
for an excellent smoothie.
Nutrition in California Bartletts includes a healty dose of vitamin
C and calcium.
Bartlett pears are also grown in Oregon and southern Washington.
You can always tell the difference between the two by looking
at the blossom end of the fruit. California is more of a bell
shaped fruit while the Northwest Bartlett will be tapered at
the blossom. California Bartlets are in season July through November
and Northwest Bartletts are available out of storage through
Winter and sometimes into Spring.
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