Bartlett Pears

Estimated Inventory, 44 lbs : 3.62
This item was last sold on : 05/19/25

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Description/Taste

Bartlett pears are medium to large in size and are the only pears that have a true pyriform, or pear shape, which has a rounded large bottom half and tapers to a smaller curved neck with a light brown, slender stem. The skin brightens as it ripens, transforming from green to a golden yellow, and is smooth, firm, and thick with some blushing and russeting. The flesh is aromatic, moist, cream-colored to ivory, and is fine-grained encasing a central core containing a few small, black-brown seeds. When mature but not fully ripe, Bartlett pears are crunchy, tart, and slightly gritty, but when fully ripe, they develop a juicy, smooth, buttery texture with a sweet flavor.

Seasons/Availability

Bartlett pears are available year-round, with peak season in the fall through winter.

Current Facts

Bartlett pears, botanically classified as Pyrus communis, are the fruits of a fast-growing tree that can reach over six meters in height and are members of the Rosaceae family along with apples, peaches, and apricots. Also known as Williams or Williams’ Bon Chrétien’ pear outside of the United States, Bartlett pears are a popular early season variety in both Europe and the United States. Bartlett pears are favored for their unique shape, rich coloring, sweet flavor, and smooth texture, and can be used in a wide variety of culinary applications including savory dishes, desserts, and cocktails.

Nutritional Value

Bartlett pears contain vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and some iron.

Applications

Bartlett pears are best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as baking, boiling, and grilling. They can be eaten fresh, out-of-hand, added to salads for a sweet flavor, sliced into wedges and served on cheese boards, or blended into a granita to top ice cream. Bartlett pears can also be layered in sandwiches such as grilled cheese, used as a topping over pizza, or chopped with other fruits and stuffed in poblano chiles in Mexico’s independence day dish known as chiles en noganda. Also, the pears can be smoked over a charcoal grill for added flavor or sliced to add a sweet flavor to cocktails with tequila and mezcal. Bartlett pears also make excellent preserves, syrups, and chutneys, can be dried, and make great additions to cakes, muffins, crisps, and quick bread. Bartlett pears compliment gorgonzola cheese, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, garlic, onions, shallots, poblano chiles, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, pomegranate seeds, strawberry, apple, spinach, pork, chicken, lamb, oysters, oregano, rosemary, parsley, mint, cilantro, Thai basil, lemongrass, matcha green tea powder, cinnamon, allspice, and honey. They will keep up to three weeks when stored in the refrigerator and a little over one year when stored in the freezer.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

Bartlett pears are known in the United States as the “canning pear” because they hold their shape and have a distinct flavor and sweetness when preserved. Approximately two-thirds of the Bartlett pear production in the United States is dedicated to producing purees, canning halves, slices, or pieces, and for pear juice. Canned pears are widely available at supermarkets, but some consumers choose to can their own pears at home boiling sugar, syrups, apple juice, or water with the pear slices. While canning at home is an excellent way to preserve an excess amount of pears for extended use, caution should be taken to ensure that the canning and preserving process are done correctly to avoid health-related issues.

Geography/History

Bartlett pears are native to Europe and were discovered in England initially by a schoolmaster named Mr. Stair in 1765. A nurseryman named Williams later acquired the variety and introduced it to the rest of England. In 1799, Williams pear trees were imported to Massachusetts and were planted on the estate of Thomas Brewer. The estate was then acquired by Enoch Bartlett, who later propagated and introduced the pear under his own name, unaware that the variety was already established as Williams in Europe. Twenty-five years after it was introduced in the United States, it was discovered that the Bartlett and the Williams were the same variety and today it is still known by the two names in Europe and the United States. Bartlett pears can be found at farmers markets and specialty grocers in the United States, specifically Washington, Oregon, and Northern California, Canada, and Europe.

Featured Restaurants

Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.

Lodge at Torrey Pines Main	San Diego CA	858-453-4420
RoVino Rotisserie + Wine	San Diego CA	619-972-6286
Barleymash	San Diego CA	619-255-7373
The Joint	San Diego CA	619-222-8272
Valley View Casino & Hotel (Black&Blue)	Valley Center CA	760-291-5500
Wormwood	San Diego CA	619-573-0289
The Wild Thyme Company	San Diego CA	858-527-0226
The Santaluz Club Inc - Golf Course Amenities	San Diego CA	858-759-3150
Crust Pizzeria Carlsbad 2019	Carlsbad CA	760-944-1111
Inn at Rancho Santa Fe (Banquet)	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-381-8289
Seasoned Catering and Events	San Diego CA	619-246-4909
Red Door Friends	San Diego CA	619-295-6000
The Besta-Wan Pizza House	Cardiff CA	805-231-2515
Far Corner (Bar)	San Diego CA	619-549-0838
Gravity Heights Mission Valley	San Diego CA	619-384-5993
College Cuisine-Pi Beta Phi	San Diego CA	310-634-2371
California English	San Diego CA	727-515-0362
Ballast Point Rest. - Miramar	San Diego CA	858-790-6900
Marriott Courtyard Nolen	San Diego CA	619-544-1004
Public House 131	San Diego CA	858-537-0890

the other 37...

Half Door Brewing	San Diego CA	619-655-7459
Paradise Point Resort BQT Kitchen	San Diego CA	858-490-6363
Wormwood (Bar)	San Diego CA	619-573-0289
Beaumont's	San Diego CA	858-459-0474
PFC Fitness Camp	Carlsbad CA	888-488-8936
Leu Leu	Leucadia CA	619-316-5807
Cross Roots	San Diego CA	858-245-1678
Rosemary Trattoria	Coronado CA	619-669-8435
American Pizza Manufacturing	La Jolla CA	858-246-6756
Sheraton Carlsbad (Distribution Center)	Carlsbad CA	760-827-2400
Alila Marea (VAGA Restaurant)	Encinitas CA	805-539-9719
Leucadia Pizza Point Loma	San Diego CA	619-295-2222
Slowly	San Diego CA	858-352-6080
The Glen at Scripps Ranch	San Diego CA	858-444-8500
Nomad Donuts	San Diego CA	619-431-5000
Leucadia Pizza Scripps Ranch	San Diego CA	858-530-2222
Nolita Hall	San Diego CA	619-618-8820
Herb & Sea	Encinitas CA	858-587-6601
Great Maple Hillcrest	San Diego CA	619-255-2282
Tahona (Bar)	San Diego CA	619-573-0289
Monello (Bar)	San Diego CA	619-822-5493
Parkhouse Eatery	San Diego CA	619 295 7275
Coronado Yacht Club	Coronado CA	619-435-1848
Fresh Sushi Catering	Carlsbad CA	858-344-7098
Boujiemana	San Diego CA	415-710-0510
Mothership	San Diego CA	858-342-3609
Toast Catering	San Diego CA	619-795-9135
Portside Pier (TopSail)	San Diego CA	858-268-1030
Bistro du Marche by Tapenade	La Jolla CA	858-551-7500
Nectarine Grove Bakehouse	Del Mar CA	858-925-7357
The Lion Share	San Diego CA	619-564-6924
Shorehouse Kitchen Carlsbad	Carlsbad CA	858-663-9916
La Costa Resort & Spa Main Kitchen	Carlsbad CA	760-930-7063
Coco Maya by Miss Bs	San Diego CA	858-245-3780
Il Giardino di Lilli	La Jolla CA	619-467-9897
Small Barn	Temecula CA	951-225-2822
Artifact at Mingei	San Diego CA	619-846-2164

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include Bartlett Pears. One

is easiest, three is harder.

Recipe Runner		Pear, Prosciutto, and Gorgonzola Pizza
This Gal Cooks		Super Fruit and Walnut Quinoa Salad
Empowered Sustenance		Rosemary Infused Pear Sorbet
Shutterbean		Pear Custard Pie
Life Made Simple		Poached Pear and Almond Tart
Ciao Florentina		Basil Pear Salad with Lemon Honey Dressing
Kitchen Treaty		Autumn Fruit Salad with Cinnamon Greek Yogurt Dressing
Bon Appetit		Sautéed Pears with Bacon and Mustard Dressing
Apron Strings		Cinnamon Red Hots Candy Canned Pears
Foodness Gracious		Blackberry and Pear Galette with Rosemary

the other 27...

Delish		Crispy Prosciutto Cups with Pear
Food In Jars		Bartlett Pear Chutney with Dried Cherries and Ginger
Running to the Kitchen		Pear, bacon and brie grilled cheese
Carlsbad Cravings		Teriyaki Chicken Tacos with Grilled Pineapple Pear Salsa
Woolworths		Apple & Pear Pikelets
Food to Love		Caramel, Apple and Pear Danish
Natasha's Kitchen		Print Blueberry Pear Smoothie
BriGeeski		Pickled Pear Carnitas Taco with Jalapeno Crema
May I Have That Recipe?		Ginger, Pear, & Turmeric Muffins
Tangerine Zest		Nice Pear and Chocolate Cake
Radiate Food Vibes		Fresh Mozzarella and Pear Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Maple Mustard
Yay For Food		Healthy Pear Ginger Chia Smoothie
Floating Kitchen		Pear and Ginger Scones with White Chocolate Drizzle
Firefly Farms		Blue Cheese, Pear, and Prosciutto Flatbread with Rosemary Vinaigrette
The Healthy Foodie		Juicy Pear Smoothie
Feed Them Wisely		Spinach, Pear and Toasted Pecan Salad with Boursin Cheese
A Beautiful Mess		Green Apple and Pear Chi-Chi Cocktail
Just a Little Bit of Bacon		Spiced Double Pear Martini
A Dash of Compassion		Pear Vanilla Fruit Leather
Dessert for Two		Pear Upside-Down Gingerbread
Reluctant Entertainer		Roasted Chicken with Honey Bacon Pears
Stirring Stew		Bartlett Pears a la Mode
Just a Little Bit of Bacon		Pear Bourbon Smash Cocktail
Seasons And Suppers		Italian Pear Almond Cake
The Restless Palat		Pear and Hazelnut Tart with Lemon Goat Cheese Cream
Capturing Joy		Gluten Free Cinnamon Pear Pancakes
Vikalinka		Salted Caramel Pear Tarts