Stemilt Growers sees strong marketing prospects for pears

With crop volumes expected to be similar to a year ago, Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers LLC will offer both organic and conventional pears this season.

“Harvest is underway with bartlett and starkrimson, both considered summer pear varieties,” Brianna Shales, marketing director of Stemilt Growers LLC, Wenatchee, Wash., said in late August. “The crop is comparable to last year’s volume, but we are anticipating fruit sizing to be a size or two smaller, leading to more bag promotion opportunities.”

Key pear varieties for Stemilt include bartlett, red Pears, d’anjou and bosc. Stemilt does grow both organically and conventionally, with organic fruit marketed under the Artisan Organics label. 

“Our season is off to a later start due to cool spring, so we will be harvesting and packing quickly to fulfill demand for summer pears,” she said.

Bags have been a great vehicle to increase pear purchase size, she said, noting that “we are excited for the potential of Lil Snappers kid-size pear promos this season.”

Shales said, this season, Stemilt will be offering Happi Pear, a proprietary pear variety and the first branded pear in North America.

“We expect demand to exceed our very limited supply, but Happi Pear is going to be one to watch in the future,” Shales said. “It has a unique texture, is very friendly to merchandise at retail and for the consumer to understand how to ripen. It is sweet with a bright and zesty bite … and we are focused on helping consumers understand that Happi Pear is intended to be 'the fruit for every smile.'”

Prime growing regions

Shales said Stemilt grows pears in two premier production regions: the Entiat and Wenatchee River Valleys. 

“These are parallel regions that are located in very close proximity to our storage and packing facilities,” she said.  That close proximity cuts the need for transportation during harvest and enhances quality.

“Our pears are branded as Rushing Rivers Pears to pay homage to the great locales they call home,” Shales sad. “The mountain region has rivers running through it and great airflow to ensure pears come off the tree clean.”

Stemilt is “obsessed” with growing pears for flavor in order to ensure a great consumer experience, she said, and “this helps increase repeat purchases of pears, which is vital to the category’s future."

Market conditions

With crop size similar to last year, Shales said market conditions should feature a good balance between demand and supply for domestic and export sales. Mexico is the main pear market for export sales.

In general, Shales said, Stemilt  is poised for a great pear season and is ready to  align with retailers during key times of the year to maximize display space and promotion on pears. 

“December is pear month and a time where retailers really get behind pear sales,” Shales said. “It’s a great time for cross-merchandising on pears with wine and cheese, as many shoppers are in entertaining mode.”

The key to success on pears is providing high-quality, flavorful fruit and promoting them regularly, she said. Multivariety ads every month help the category stay relevant, too.