Yakima Fresh Conditioned Anjou Pear Program
What Are Conditioned Pears?
Conditioned pears are those that have been brought to the "just starting to ripen" state. This phase, referred to as the "breaking" point, is not to be confused with pre-ripened pears.The conditioning process is completely natural. It consists of placing boxes of pears in an environmentally controlled room where both humidity and temperature are closely regulated. The conditioning takes place with the introduction of ethylene gas, (a naturally occurring gas that pears and other fruits, such as, bananas or citrus produce during the ripening process).
Why Condition?
Some customers resist purchasing fresh produce items that cannot be taken home and eaten immediately or very soon. This applies to Bartletts and other winter pears. Although Bartletts are more familiar to shoppers it is generally understood that they will turn yellow (or dark red for the red varieties) when they ripen.Anjou pears present an additional obstacle to consumer understanding since there is little discernible color change to indicate ripeness. Anjou pears will remain green even when they are perfectly ripe, traditionally a fruit color that conveys a lack of ripeness. So if a consumer can count on their pears being ripe a few days from purchase, they will be more likely to add pears to their regular shopping list.
Conditioned Anjous
Once Bartletts start to ripen the process can't be stopped. Anjou pears on the other hand, can be brought close to the breaking point, or conditioned, and then chilled back to 30 degrees F (-1 degree C) where they will then have about as much storage life as non-conditioned pears.So what's the benefit? Once brought out of chilled storage, conditioned pears will take only 2 to 4 days to become fully ripe, instead of the 7 to 10 days typically needed for non-conditioned pears.
Faster Selling Anjous
With conditioned pears, your shoppers can purchase pears very nearly ripened and ready to eat. They will come back sooner for their next purchase because they are spending less time waiting for pears to ripen.Minimized Shrinkage
Your conditioned Anjou pears will turn far more rapidly as shoppers become confident of purchasing nearly ready-to-eat Anjou pears. Work your displays of conditioned pears just as you do your supplies of regular pears, keeping the riper pears to the top and front.Increase Volume Sales
Conditioning Anjou pears broadens the consumer's "window-of-use" opportunity, advancing it forward several days closer to the time of purchase. Shoppers will select pears having a range of ripeness levels; they'll have the option of buying pears for both more immediate uses as well as a supply for later uses.Contact your Yakima Fresh Sales Representative
Selected Conditioned Pear Information Source: Pear Bureau Northwest