In this issue:
"New crop"
Bartlett pears
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Bartlett pears
Bartlett pears are the
most popular variety of pears grown. This popularity
is well deserved. With a tear-drop shape and tender,
golden (when ripe) skin, Bartlett's have a fine-grained,
buttery flesh with a sweet, juicy flavor and a pleasant
aroma.
 In Europe and the US,
Bartlett's are harvested from July to October (sometimes
into November) and, now in late winter, we are all looking
forward to the next pear season and the delights of eating
fresh, organic pears.
(Personal note: we have a
small orchard here on our organic farm outside of Nevada
City, CA in the foothills of the Sierras. We were
checking our trees on Tuesday and the Bartlett pear buds are
already swelling
and starting to flower! The bees
can't wait to get to the pear flowers, but they we're very
upset this morning by four inches of new snow over night -
very unusual here - and seven more inches are forecasted for
tonight!).
But guess what?
Over the past decade, commercial pear production has boomed in South
Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Argentina.
Because these countries are all in the southern hemisphere,
as we approach spring, they are approaching fall. As a
result, they are now beginning to harvest their pears.
And due to the wonders of
the world-wide economy and due to the marvel of how Bartlett
pears ripen, this week Goodness Greeness is delighted to
offer you fresh, delicious "first-of-the-other-pear-season"
organic Bartlett pears grown in Argentina. (These
pears are
also called "new crop" Bartlett pears).
How
Bartlett pears ripen
You
do not want to ripen a Bartlett pear on the tree.
This is because pears have a characteristically gritty
texture caused by cells in the flesh called stone cells.
Although
more and more of these cells have been bred out of newer
varieties, all varieties still contain them.
Picking
pears while they are still green, before the fruit has
matured, and holding them under controlled conditions
prevents the formation of too many stone cells.
So
Bartlett's are picked green and kept cool to delay maturing.
At your market, they are still green or just starting to
turn yellow.
 When you get them home from market,
store them in a bowl or a paper bag at room temperature.
In 3 to 7 days, they will mature to a golden yellow, with a
minimum of stone cells, and are ready for eating or cooking.
Bartlett's show a
subtle change in color as they ripen, and
some develop a sweet fragrance. You can test
a pear for ripeness by applying gentle
pressure to the stem end with your thumb -
it should yield a bit.
You can hold off the
ripening process by refrigerating green
pears and
they'll hold for some time - as long as
three to four weeks. A few days before you
want to eat them, take them out to ripen at
room temperature.
(You can also refrigerate a ripe pear, but it's only going to last
two or three
days).
A
nutritional fruit
Bartlett
pears provide a
variety of nutrients, including important vitamins
and minerals.
One medium pear provides 16 percent of
the daily requirement for dietary fiber (4 grams)
and 10 percent of the daily requirement for vitamin
C.
Fresh Bartlett's contain a
healthy amount of potassium. Also, they contain no
cholesterol or sodium and are virtually fat free.
A
versatile fruit
Bartlett's are a truly versatile fruit.
Freshly ripened Bartlett pears are prized as a flavorful snack or
appetizer. They're great tossed in salads.
They can be made
into jelly, jam or preserves, used in a variety of desserts and
many baked creations.
 They
can be used in place of apples in most apple recipes.
And they
can be blended into fruit drinks or used in a creatively fresh approach to salsas or
chutney.
There are a
ton of tasty Bartlett pear recipes on the
calpear.com site - this
is the web site of the California Pear Advisory Board.
Here is
just a sampling:
Salad - Mache, Bartlett pear and avocado salad
Appetizer - Bartlett pear and prosciutto brochetta
Dessert - Bartlett pear and almond croustade
Quick ideas for
breakfast,
lunch and
dessert
So for a versatile treat
for yourself and your family this week, try "new crop"
organic Bartlett pears from Goodness Greeness.
Contact
us
You can find
"new crop" organic Bartlett pears - along
with a broad selection of fresh organic
fruits and vegetables - from Goodness Greeness at your local market.
Email us
at
newsletter@goodnessgreeness.com if you can't find them and we'll help you
locate them.
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lot of information provided on organic fruits and vegetables, their
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