Pear season has already begun in parts of Oregon and Washington. While the harvest is starting slightly early, marketers say fruit sizing looks strong.
“Across the board, whether it’s bartlett or starkrimson, anjou or bosc, the fruit is going to be big this year,” says Mac Riggan, vice president of sales and business development for Chelan Fresh.
Riggan says retailers can expect large, exceptionally clean and good-quality fruit.
Brianna Shales, marketing director for Stemilt Growers, says a mild spring and summer set up a strong growing season. While a down year often follows a bumper crop like last year’s, she says this season isn’t taking as sharp a dip as expected.
“While volumes will be down from last year, it is not as dramatic as one would think,” she says. “It’s been a low psylla year which will lead to clean fruit, especially in winter varieties.”
Clean fruit will bolster sales, says Chuck Sinks, president of sales and marketing for Honeybear Brands.
“Consumers shop with their eyes first, and this season’s crop should make a great first impression,” he says.
While it’s early, retailers and consumers can expect clean skins, exceptional eating quality with good pressure, high sugars and a premium appearance, Sinks says.
Retailers can also expect average volumes of bosc.
“We’re probably about 80% of an average crop, which is amazing considering we went from about 700,000 boxes two years ago to 2.4 million this year,” Riggan says.
William Gant, pear international sales manager for CMI Orchards, puts this year’s numbers in perspective, noting even with this year’s projections, the numbers are above that of 2024.
“Looking at our 2026 pear numbers in isolation, the year-over-year decline could suggest a category downturn,” he says. “However, 2025 was an exceptional outlier year, with conventional pear volume up 78.7% and organic volume up 775.4% compared to 2024. What we’re seeing in 2026 is a return to a more sustainable and normalized production level following an extraordinary season.”
Clay Burke, director of pear sales for Superfresh Growers, says harvest is currently projected to begin seven to 10 days earlier than last year across most varieties and growing regions. While weather and labor can influence timing, he sees a steady start with “well-spaced harvest windows across our geographically diverse growing regions.”
Organic Pear Volume and Dollar Sales Gain National Momentum
Organics are no longer isolated to specific regional pockets, Riggan says, noting that while the Northeast leads in overall organic volume dollars and the West commands the highest fob prices, the Midwest led in dollar growth while the South posted strong volume gains.
“It looks to me like they’re kind of starting to hit almost everywhere,” Riggan says. “Dollars are up 5% across the board. Volume is up 7.5%. So, I just see more and more people trending toward organic fruit.”
Burke says Circana data shows the organic pear category has increased 8.2% in the last four weeks ending June 14.
“California, Florida, New York and Texas remain among the strongest markets for organic pears, with Pennsylvania and Washington also showing significant movement,” he says.
Burke highlights Superfresh Growers’ Orchard Buddies organic pear program, which uses bright colorful graphics to create built-in shelf appeal for merchandising alongside bulk organic offerings.
“The bags provide added visibility and a convenient, family-friendly option, while clear ripening, flavor and usage information displayed in stores helps build shopper confidence and encourage repeat purchases throughout the season,” he explains.
Shales says while organics are a small part of the overall crop, the organic shopper is “younger, loyal, and willing to try new things so making pears a natural fit.” She also points to Stemilt’s four-packs and bags to help deliver convenience to shoppers while ensuring retailers get the organic ring.
Sinks says organic pears align well with health-conscious consumers and shoppers with younger families.
“Retailers are also finding success in markets where organic shoppers are already purchasing premium produce categories,” he says. “We support retailers with merchandising recommendations, digital content, display-ready packaging and promotional calendars that help position organic pears as a premium yet approachable everyday fruit. Educating shoppers on versatility, nutrition and ripening is equally important to driving repeat purchases.”
Aligning Whole Fruit Nutrition With Emerging Consumer Health Goals
Fibermaxxing has become a new trend as consumers look to functional foods to boost fiber intake, and Shales says that pears are perfectly positioned to capitalize on this.
“Our goal is to help retailers align promotions with this theme,” she says. “I also see opportunities for pairing pears with other fiber-rich foods, whether they are fresh or center store. This has been done time and again as protein took up shelf space and is worth trying as fiber becomes a talking point.”
According to Sinks, whole produce offers a distinct advantage over fortified alternatives.
“Consumers are actively looking for simple, recognizable foods that support their health goals, and pears fit that story perfectly,” he says.
Messaging around “real food, real fiber” resonates well, especially when paired with simple serving ideas for snacks, breakfast and lunch, Sinks adds.
Barbara Ruhs, director of communications for USA Pears, says the organization will anchor its health messaging directly to emerging consumer trends to position the fruit as a “fiber upgrade” for gut health and shoppers taking GLP-1 medications, as pears offer 21% of the daily fiber goal.
“While the soft skin on pears makes its appearance easily bruised at store level, it is also one of its superpowers,” she says. “Eating the skin on fruit is where nutrients are hidden in plain sight. Polyphenols and nutrients that protect fruit from the sun are also powerful for human health. It’s Mother Nature’s magic. It’s up to retailers to market and merchandise pears to communicate these benefits.”
Ruhs says new nutrition research launching this fall with Washington State University will further explore the impact of pear fiber on the gut microbiome, providing retailers with science-backed messaging for smoothies, snacking and everyday eating.
Gant sees social media trends as a direct bridge to selling more whole fruit.
“Trends like ‘fibermaxxing’ are creating a great opportunity to remind consumers that fiber doesn’t have to come from powders, supplements and processed products,” Gant says. “Pears are a naturally fiber-rich, whole-food option that delivers both nutrition and great taste in a simple, convenient package.”
Burke says in-store signage, digital content and social media can help reinforce the idea that pears are a functional fruit.
“We should emphasize that pears naturally deliver fiber in a delicious, portable, ready-to-eat fruit with no ingredient list required.”
Bagged and Bulk Pear Programs Support Retail Margin Goals
Burke says that bagged produce continues to gain momentum with consumers seeking convenience through online shopping, curbside pickup and grocery delivery.
“During key promotional windows, bags can support sharper price points that move additional units through the register, while loose pears allow price-sensitive shoppers to purchase just one or two pieces of fruit at a lower total cost,” Burke says. “Offering both formats helps retailers meet different shopping needs without sacrificing margin.”
Shales points to bags accounting for nearly 20% of last year’s crop volume, marking a 43% increase from the year before.
“Bags do offer a value by selling for a lower price per pound than bulk. It’s critical that volume increases alongside those lower per pound prices,” she says. “Utilizing bags for high velocity promotions but not forgetting that multivariety bulk ads are important category drivers is a way to win over pear shoppers.”
Shales also highlights Stemilt’s new mixed pear pouch bag in organics and conventional to help shoppers try three varieties at once.
Gant says CMI’s Happy Bee bagged pear program helps shoppers better understand health benefits and highlights pears’ versatility.
“The packaging goes above and beyond by including recipes and usage suggestions that help shoppers get the most out of their purchase and reduce food waste at home,” Gant says. “By merchandising bagged pears alongside attractive loose displays, retailers can create multiple entry points into the category, driving volume and shopper satisfaction.”
Educating Produce Shoppers on Pear Texture and Culinary Usage
Riggan says with today’s consumers having diversified tastes, it’s almost a myth to think that they avoid pears because of a lack of ripening awareness.
“We think everybody wants a soft pear, and that is not true,” he says.
Instead, he thinks retailers can help consumers understand the unique eating experience of pears by boosting displays and helping drive awareness, especially at a time when consumers are inundated with marketing messages through social media and other platforms.
Ruhs urges retailers to teach shoppers how different varieties function in the kitchen, from crisp snacking to cooking and baking, to drive purchase frequency.
“Most people think of pears as one type of pear — bartlett, most likely,” Ruhs says. “As a bartlett ripens, this iconic pear gets softer, sweeter and juicier. However, there are several other varieties of pears, each that has a unique flavor and texture. Anjou pears are more tart and crisp and should be enjoyed before they’re too soft. For example, a bosc pear is the perfect pear for cooking because it is more firm and gets sweeter when it is cooked.”
As the pear industry puts more of a focus on educating consumers less familiar with pears, ripening guidance helps remove some of that uncertainty.
“Pears can also deliver a variety of eating experiences depending on the occasion, whether sliced into a salad, enjoyed as a quick snack or blended into a smoothie,” Burke says. “Encouraging consumers to try pears at different stages helps them discover what they enjoy most, building confidence in the category and supporting repeat purchases.”
Burke says retailers can maximize pear exposure by thinking about how consumers see fruit throughout the holidays and seasons, rather than using the same playbook. He suggests promoting the beginning of the season with starkrimson and leading into bartlett, anjou, bosc and other varieties with clear signage on flavor, usage and ripening.
“This season, retailers have an opportunity to highlight the diversity of pear varieties, create excitement as each one enters the market, and show consumers how pears fit into everyday snacking, cooking, entertaining, and healthy living,” he says.
Shales emphasizes that clear ripening guidance on displays is critical for driving repeat sales.
“Without a consistent eating experience, it is hard to win pear shoppers over for the long haul,” she says.
Sinks says preconditioned fruit and managed-pressure shipping programs help retailers offer pears at the ideal and predictable eating quality, while messaging such as “Check the Neck” with clear instructions on when to eat or refrigerate pears helps increase consumer confidence.
“Delivering a consistently great eating experience remains one of the biggest opportunities for growing pear consumption,” he says.
Gant says CMI Orchards offers retailers tools to help simplify the ripening process for shoppers with in-store signage, packaging callouts, merchandising displays, digital content and more.
Other varieties, such as gem, help deliver a unique eating experience at different levels of ripeness, Gant says.
“Consumers can enjoy it immediately after purchasing as a refreshing, crisp bite or allow it to ripen for a few days to experience a softer texture and lots of sweetness,” he says. “That flexibility helps reduce the uncertainty often associated with pears and gives shoppers confidence they’ll enjoy great flavor regardless of when they choose to eat the fruit.”
Gant says pairing recipe inspiration with pears also helps drive sales. He encourages retailers “to merchandise pears as a destination item throughout the store.”
Fall Produce Display Strategies and Key Pear Promotional Windows
As for this season, Riggan says with the fruit sizing larger, fruit displays at stores will set up well.
“Big displays are everything, and everybody asks for big displays,” he says, adding that if retailers hit consumers “front and center with it with an 8-foot-wide, 4-foot-deep pear display when they walk in the door, there’s a high probability they’re going to grab some.”
Retailers can couple the health messaging during key pear timing of September, October, November and December, and Riggan encourages retailers to comingle displays with apples.
“We provide shippers with free merchandisers,” he says. “They’re about 24 inches tall, so it just allows you to bring that much floor space up to a sales level to where people see it, and we have organic merchandisers and regular. They really do have great eye appeal, and they just help you create more satellite sales space in your department.”
Holiday charcuterie boards present another key promotional window. Riggan suggests retailers highlight cheese and pear pairings, leveraging campaign assets provided by USA Pears.
Riggan also suggests a promotional blitz of “Pear-O-Rama” to really help highlight the different pear varieties and eating experiences available for consumers that want to try something new.
“You bring in as many pears as you can [and] try to build some excitement around them for two weeks,” he says. “There’s a lot of fringe pear varieties out there, such as Asian pears, that retailers can try to bring in. If you can build a pear destination sometime in the fall, I think it does a lot.”
Shales points to November through January as key pear volume periods where retailers can truly tailor promotions to seasonal events such as healthy eating in the New Year and cross-merchandising to build momentum.
Sinks says that while fall promotions tend to focus on apples, pears are often overlooked.
“Retailers that consistently merchandise pears with impactful displays, educational signage and regular promotional support tend to see stronger category performance,” he says.
To build long-term category growth, Ruhs says USA Pears targets younger demographics by taking retail promotions into college dining halls and athletic departments.
“This coming year, USA Pears is partnering with multiple colleges and universities to bring pears to the next generation of consumers,” says Ruhs. “Through innovative partnerships with collegiate sports, dining programs and researchers, USA Pears is laying the foundation to transform awareness of pears to make them part of everyday eating.”
