Chelan Fresh's Mac Riggan and USA Pears' Barbara Ruhs Discuss Pear Opportunities and Nutritional Benefits

CHELAN, WA - Promotable volumes and great eating quality are hallmarks of Chelan Fresh’s pear program this season, presenting opportunities for retailers to uplift the category with an abundant supply of domestic pears.

“We have strong promotable volumes of Anjous and Bosc pears this season. This year’s Bosc crop was very good, with a lot of big sizes,” says Mac Riggan, Vice President of Sales and Business Development, before explaining how retailers can harness this as an opportunity in the produce department. “Retailers can build large Bosc pear displays right up front for shoppers to immediately gravitate to.”

As more consumers center their focus on health and nutrition, retailers have an opportunity to elevate the category with strategic messaging that highlights the benefits of this powerhouse fruit.

“Today’s consumers are increasingly focused on health and well-being; however, even though pears are a powerhouse of nutritional benefits, they’re not top of mind,” explains Barbara Ruhs, MS, RDN, Director of Nutrition Affairs and Communications, USA Pears - Pear Bureau Northwest. “While there’s great hunger for health and nutrition information among consumers, we’re using data insights to craft a marketing strategy that drives consumption. We plan to expand nutrition research to uncover additional health and nutrition benefits that are meaningful to consumers. In addition, we are building an influential network of media dietitians who can speak as credentialed health experts to a diverse audience of pear consumers in a variety of ways—popular magazines, TV segments, podcasts, webinars, health events, and more. Pear awareness is growing, and we’re excited to bring the underrated fruit to more consumers than ever before.”

One of the produce department’s biggest strengths is the promise of high-fiber offerings. Pears are an excellent source of fiber, providing 6 grams per fruit, or 21 percent of the Daily Value. High-fiber diets have consistently been linked to heart health and lower risk of cancer, playing a key role in managing blood sugar, reducing cholesterol levels, and supporting healthy bowel movements.

“Unlike protein, fiber is not top of mind for consumers. Protein is pushed, but fiber is forgotten,” Barbara adds, weighing in on recent trends. “Retailers that highlight natural sources of fiber-rich foods like pears and communicate the health benefits are helping shoppers live healthier lives. One of the ways the pear industry is taking advantage of the protein craze is by promoting how protein and fiber are ‘better together.’ Our consumer data tells us that smoothies are an opportunity to engage the next generation, so we have 3-4 ingredient smoothie recipes that combine the natural fiber in pears with a variety of protein ingredients in smoothies.”

Supporting retailers looking to tap into this promising strategy, Chelan Fresh will continue shipping domestic Bosc pears until late June or early July, and domestic Anjou pears through August. This means several months ahead are already primed for strong traffic to the pear category.

While category pricing for pears remains lower than last year, buyers can take hold of the opportunity to center Bosc pears in their promotions—a variety that may have been priced higher in the past, Mac tells me.

As consumers place a heightened focus on their nutritional needs and their wallets, pears are emerging as a category ripe for growth. For more insights right from the produce department, keep reading AndNowUKnow.