Superfresh Growers looks for an increase in its proprietary Mardi Gras pear volume

Domex Superfresh Growers is forecasting its 2023 pear crop will be down just slightly from last year.

“There are key varieties, however, that will be up. We are forecasting bartlett, bosc, starkrimson and our proprietary pear, Mardi Gras, to be up this year,” said Catherine Gipe-Stewart, director of marketing for Domex Superfresh Growers, Yakima, Wash.

Superfresh Growers debuted Mardi Gras last year, she said.

“This fresh addition boasts an exquisite blend of sweetness, buttery texture, and juiciness that melts in your mouth when perfectly ripe,” Gipe-Stewart said. “The sales performance exceeded expectations, and the response from consumers was nothing short of fantastic.” She said retailers also offered praise for the pear’s taste and fit in merchandising plans.

Organic plays a significant role within the Superfresh pear program, and the marketer is the largest pear grower in the Pacific Northwest, she said.

“Nearly a third, around 35%, of our pear production is certified organic,” Gipe-Stewart said. “While maintaining our commitment to organic practices, we anticipate a minor decrease in the volume of organic pears this year.”

Gipe-Stewart said a flash bloom across the Northwest saw a short pollination window across many regions, which developed into a lighter crop set in some areas.

“Despite Mother Nature doing her own thinning, the fruit that is on the trees looks great," she said. "This is some of the cleanest fruit we’ve seen, with very little scuffing or marking."

The marketer offers Northwest pears year-round, Gipe-Stewart said.

The 2022-23 Northwest pear season was fairly steady dollarwise but had a 10% decrease in volume for the 52-week period ending Aug. 12. “The Northwest pear crop was down last year, and inflation pushed retail prices up, which is evident in the numbers,” she said.

For the upcoming season, Gipe-Stewart said Superfresh Growers will offer ample promotion opportunities.

“In our 2023 promotion and merchandising strategy, we're placing special emphasis on red pears and anjous, particularly organics,” she said. “As we head into the autumn season, we suggest promoting bartlett, both conventional and organic, as well as red pears for September and October promotions. Then, as November arrives, we recommend a spotlight on both red and green anjou pears.”