Add pears to your A B C's, because there's more to school lunch than Apples, Bananas, and Citrus!
Fresh pears are a healthy addition to your school lunch menu. While the nutritional qualities of fresh pears will please you, their sweet and juicy flavor will win over the kids! Introducing children to the delicious taste of fresh pears helps encourage healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime! Beyond the Anjou and Bosc pears available to you through the USDA's school lunch purchases, there are several fresh pear varieties that can easily be incorporated into your menu throughout the year, including Bartlett.
Bartletts are harvested in August and are an excellent menu item through December. Anjou pears, harvested in early fall in the Northwest, remain available nearly year-round, and can be included with confidence of availability in your menu throughout the school year.
The Bosc pear is a perfect choice for baking, or serving fresh with peanut butter or cream cheese. Tiny, sweet Seckels served whole make a healthy tray snack, just the right size for your youngest students.
Download our School Food Service Recipes, featuring fresh USA Pears, from the recipe link in this section. Each recipe has been developed specifically for School Food Service, providing child-pleasing menu suggestions with complete nutrient-per-serving breakdowns.
Be sure to serve your pears fully ripe, when they are at their maximum levels of sweetness and hold the most juices. Ask your distributor to ripen them for you, so that your USA Pear deliveries are ready for immediate use. Most pears, except Bartletts, don't change color as they ripen. Check the Neck for Ripeness TM at the stem end, using slight pressure with your thumb. Pears are ripe when they yield to gentle pressure.
Our School Foodservice materials will help you have a successful experience with fresh pears on the lunch menu. If you have a comment, a question, or would like additional information, please contact us via e-mail. To order your fresh pears, contact your produce supplier or your local Regional Manager from Pear Bureau Northwest. The Regional Managers can also share with you the promotional activities available on a school or district level.