Happi Pear®
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Happi Pear® is a medium to large varietal, averaging 6 to 9 centimeters in diameter and 7 to 10 centimeters in length, and has a pyriform shape with a slender neck tapering to a curved, rounded base. Each fruit will vary in size and appearance, a natural part of cultivation, and some pears may be uniform while some are slightly slanted or asymmetric. Happi Pear® showcases thin, barely noticeable skin that is smooth and taut. The skin is also delicate, developing some brown markings if scratched, and features pale lenticels scattered across the surface. One of the distinguishing traits of the variety is the ability to eat the fruit in two color stages. Happi Pear® is initially green and eventually transitions to shades of yellow, sometimes blushed with faint red patches developed from sun exposure. The fruits can be eaten in either stage, offering distinct textures. Green Happi Pears® are firmer, crunchier, and aqueous with a fine-grained consistency. As the pears transition into yellow hues, the flesh softens but still retains a pleasant density, becomes juicier, and develops a succulent texture. The flesh also encases a small central core filled with 3 to 5 ovate-shaped seeds. The Happi Pear® is edible raw or cooked and releases a subtly sweet, fruity, and floral aroma. The flesh ranges from 11.8 to 13.5 Brix, a measurement of sugar, creating a bright, sweet, tart, and tangy flavor with tropical, zesty, and refreshing undertones.
Seasons/Availability
Happi Pear® is a summer pear. Once harvested, the fruits can be professionally stored and sold for an extended period into the fall. The variety is also currently involved in storage trials to extend the season beyond five months.
Current Facts
Happi Pear®, botanically classified as Pyrus communis, is a specialty variety belonging to the Rosaceae family. The modern pear cultivar was bred in the late 20th century through natural cross-pollination methods in Canada and was selected for commercial release for its distinct texture, flavor, and growth characteristics. Happi Pear® is a branded variety of HW 624 pears and is uniquely positioned as a consumer and grower-friendly cultivar. Growers value Happi Pear® for its productive nature, ability to be sown in higher-density plantings, and fireblight and psylla tolerance, two common and potentially destructive issues within commercial pear production. This disease tolerance also allows the fruits to be grown using methods with a softer environmental impact. Happi Pear® is still relatively new in commercial markets, but the variety has been met with consumer appreciation for its versatility and capacity to be consumed in both its green and yellow stages. Happi Pear® can be enjoyed immediately after purchase as a fresh-eating treat, or it can be incorporated into a wide array of sweet or savory culinary preparations. The variety is noted for its consistent flavor, texture, durability, and shelf life.
Nutritional Value
Pears, in general, are sources of vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and copper. Each variety will have its own nutritional content. Fiber aids the body in digestion, while vitamin C helps to strengthen the immune system. Potassium balances fluid levels within the body and copper assists in bodily functions such as producing red blood cells, developing connective tissues, and mineral absorption. Pears also provide antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and guard the cells against the damage caused by free radicals and other smaller quantities of nutrients, including vitamin A, folate, vitamin K, and niacin.
Applications
Happi Pear® has a bright, sweet, and tangy flavor suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The variety can be eaten out of hand and is enjoyed in both its green, crunchy state and yellow, softer stage. It is important to note that the brand sticker on the fruit should be removed and the surface should be washed before consumption. Happi Pear® is considered an all-purpose variety and is consumed as a snack, sliced and added to charcuterie boards, or tossed into green salads. The fruit’s sweet, fine-grained, and juicy nature also allows it to be blended into juices and smoothies, combined into fruit medleys, or eaten sliced as a fresh accompaniment to main dishes. In addition to raw preparations, Happi Pear® can be simmered into preserves, jams, syrups, and compotes. They can also be used in their firmer stages in soups or baked into cakes, bread, and other desserts. Happi Pear® has a refreshing, zesty flavoring that can be interwoven into any sweet or savory dish calling for pears in general. Happi Pear® pairs well with nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, and almonds, cheeses including goat, feta, gorgonzola, and brie, and herbs such as sage, oregano, rosemary, and thyme. The variety can be left at room temperature to transition from green to yellow hues, or it can be stored in the refrigerator to retain a crisper texture.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The release of Happi Pear® marks a renewal and movement to reinvigorate the commercial pear market. Historically, the most common pear varieties found in commercial markets are older pear varieties of European descent. These pears are still valued among the public for culinary preparations, but consumer interests are shifting to discovering and appreciating new varieties. In commercial markets, the Happi Pear® is marketed as the “fruit for every smile™” a slogan trademarked by the Vineland Research and Innovation Center. The pears are celebrated for their ability to bring delight through simplicity. The pear’s optimistic brand name is a playful twist on the word happy and evokes a joyful and bright feel, similar feelings to what consumers experience when they eat the fresh fruits. Happi Pear® is also promoted for its distinct texture, often described as an unexpected bite, and is marketed to curious fruit enthusiasts. Stemilt is leading the way in renewing the commercial pear market through the Happi Pear® release in the United States and the company has plans to expand the variety’s availability and visibility.
Geography/History
Happi Pear® was initially developed in Canada by the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada breeding program in Ontario. The variety was created from a natural cross of Harrow Sweet pears and a variety labeled NY10353. The initial cross was performed in 1988, and a hybrid seedling was selected in 1995 and given the name HW 624. The new seedling was propagated and planted in evaluation orchards in 1999 in Jordan Station, Ontario. Regional trials of HW 624 began in 2000, and in 2013, the variety was transferred to the Vineland Research and Innovation Center in Ontario for potential commercialization. HW 624 pears were submitted for a patent in March 2015 and were granted patent approval in August 2017 under USPP 28,336 P3. This patent is still active and has projected coverings until at least 2036. In the early 2020s, the Vineland Research and Innovation Center partnered with Washington State grower and marketer Stemilt to commercially release HW 624 pears in the United States. The variety was branded under the marketing name Happi Pear®, and Stemilt growers harvested their first test commercial crop in 2021 and 2022. Happi Pear® is one of the first proprietary pear varieties to be marketed and sold in the United States. Today, Happi Pear® is grown through Stemilt in Washington State and is seasonally sold through retailers in the United States. Happi Pear® is also being cultivated in southwestern Ontario and Quebec for sales in Canada and is also being evaluated for future international release. Stemilt has potential plans to expand the variety’s reach, possibly to Mexico and Europe in the future. The Happi Pear® fruits featured in the photograph above were sourced through Stemilt, a family-owned company based in Washington State.
