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Pears on Pizza? Absolutely!

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Step aside pineapple, there’s a new fruit pizza topping in town!

It’s long been debated as to whether or not pineapple (fruit in general) belongs on pizza. Well, we’re here to add to that great debate, BUT instead of pineapple, we’re adding pears! Pears can be grilled or cooked, they pair well with cheese, and let’s be honest… Everything goes with bread! Hence why we’ve added them to one of our favorite foods.

Now it’s time pineapples step aside for pears to triumph as the ultimate fruit to use as a pizza topping!

We highly recommend giving one of the delicious recipes below a try.

While you’re at it, enter for your chance to win a Gozney Roccbox mobile pizza oven. Our friends over at USA Pears are hosting a #PearPizza takeover from September 12, 2019-October 16, 2019.

How to enter:

  • Follow @USAPears on Instagram
  • Take a picture of your #pearpizza – it can be your own creation OR a pizza you purchased.
  • Share your photo to Instagram with #PearPizza  and tag @USAPears

Official Rules

Pear & Walnut Flatbread with Gorgonzola, Arugula and Balsamic Glaze
Grilled Pizzetta with Pears, Shaved Ham & Fresh Basil

Meet Sage Fruit Company

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Welcome to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, where tree fruit is our specialty!

Get to know Sage Fruit Company as we take you through the process of growing, packing and shipping the world’s best apples, pears, cherries, peaches, apricots & nectarines.

#GetYourGrillOn Instagram Contest!

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Summer is the perfect time for family cookouts, so #GetYourGrillOn with Summer Fruit! We’re hosting our first ever Instagram contest with The Produce Moms and we’re giving you a chance to win a new grill!

Grilling peaches for dessert? We want to see it! How about fruit kabobs? Snap those pics! Head on over to our Instagram now and enter for a chance to WIN…1 Grand Prize Winner + 2 Weekly Winners!

How to Enter:

  1. Follow @sage_fruit and @theproducemoms on Instagram
  2. Take a photo of your summer fruit on the grill, tag @sage_fruit & the @theproducemoms and use the #GetYourGrillOn hashtag.
  3. Like this post and tag a friend.  Each new comment + friend tagged counts as an additional entry.

Contest will close on Sunday, August 26th, 2018 at 11:59PM EST

Open to US only…winner will be announced on Instagram on Monday, August 27th.

Make sure your Instagram is set to PUBLIC, so we can view your post.

Prizes:

  • Weekly Prizes = Grill Accessories
  • Grand Prize = Grill! (ARV: $300)

 

Northwest Stone Fruit Season

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This past spring, we welcomed a new growing and packing facility to the Sage Fruit Family. With this new warehouse (Vanguard Pride Packing), we added more apples and cherries to our inventory….but, we also added A LOT of Northwest grown stone fruit. So, as much as we enjoyed the summer before, we now have three more reasons to love it – apricots, peaches & nectarines! While our apricot season is already over, we are just getting started with peaches and nectarines.

What is a stone fruit?

Let’s first establish what a stone fruit is. Very simply, it is a fruit that contains a large “stone” (or pit) inside of it. Many people think the stone itself is the seed, however, the stone actually protects the seed, which is found inside of it. (Cherries are also considered stone fruit.)

Our Stone Fruit

Beginning this summer, we have both Conventional and Organic peaches and nectarines available. ALL of our peaches and nectarines are tree-ripened for the sweetest flavor! You might be asking yourself, “What does tree-ripened even mean?” Well, we allow the fruit to remain on the tree as long as possible in order for it to have the opportunity to reach its highest sugar content.  We pride ourselves on delivery an exceptional eating experience, and know that the tree-ripening process in the most important aspect of our stone fruit growing. While we pick the fruit when it is still firm, we do not pick it when it’s green. So, you can eat it as soon as you get it home, or let it sit on the counter to soften up a bit.

Types of Peaches

Peaches have a delicate aroma, and a skin that is velvety.  Depending on the pit, peaches are classified as either freestone or semi-cling varieties. A freestone peach can have its center stone easily removed from the flesh because it is not attached. In contrast, the center stone of a semi-cling peach is attached to the flesh. Freestone peaches are much more suitable for canning than semi-cling peaches, however there is no noticeable difference in flavor, and both are excellent for eating fresh!

Additionally, the flesh of peaches can be different – we grow both white flesh and yellow flesh varieties.

  • White Flesh: Extremely sweet!
  • Yellow Flesh: Sweet and well-balanced flavor.

Types of Nectarines

Nectarines and peaches are closely related. However, they do have one visible difference, which is their skin. Peaches are velvety, whereas nectarines are smooth. Their skin is brightly colored gold with hues of ruby and pink throughout. All nectarine varieties are semi-cling.

Like peaches, nectarines can either be yellow flesh or white flesh. The flavor profile of each, also follows similarly to peaches.

  • White Flesh: Extremely sweet!
  • Yellow Flesh: Sweet and well-balanced flavor.

Availability

  • Northwest grown Peaches: Mid-July through September
  • Northwest grown Nectarines: Mid July through September

Need help picking out the perfect fruit? Use the guide below!

What’s the difference? Dark Sweet vs. Rainier Cherries

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It’s officially summer here in the Pacific Northwest…. Cherry season has begun! From now through August, we will be picking, packing and shipping these little gems seven days a week. 

In all likelihood, when visiting your local supermarket, you will find two different types of cherries. Although  there are numerous varieties for each type, we classify them as Dark Sweet and Rainier. But, what’s so different between the two?

The obvious difference between them is their appearance. Dark Sweet cherries are a rich, mahogany color,   whereas Rainier cherries are yellow, with a tinge of red. However, their flavor profile also sets them apart from one another. Rainiers have a lower acidity level, which results in them having higher brix (sugar content). Thus, Rainier cherries are actually sweeter than Dark Sweet cherries.

In addition, the growing season for Rainier cherries is much shorter. There is less acreage planted in the Pacific Northwest, therefore there is less volume to supply consumers with. You can find Washington grown Rainiers at retail from mid-June until mid-July. Dark Sweets, though, you will be able to find until the end of August.

 

Quick Fact: Developed in 1952 at Washington State University, the Rainier cherry is a cross between the Bing and the Van. It gets its name after the highest peak in the state of Washington.

How to: Select, Store & Prep Cherries

Select: 
Dark Sweet – Look for cherries that are a deep red, mahogany color with green stems.
Rainier – Look for yellow with red blush on the shoulders of the fruit and green stems.

Store:
Always store your cherries in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat. Keeping them in the refrigerator prevents them from becoming soft and helps prolong their shelf-life.

Prep:
Before eating, be sure to wash your cherries by rinsing them under cool running water. Unlike some other fruits and vegetables, no additional wax is added to cherries, but it’s always a good idea to rinse your fresh produce!

Taste the Breeze!

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As I’m sure you are well aware, new products are frequently being introduced to the marketplace – including in your produce department! Just like any other industry, we look for opportunities to excite and engage consumers. For us, that means actively seeking the most flavorful, consumer-friendly apple varieties to plant in our orchards and ship to your supermarkets. So, without further ado, we would like to introduce you to the newest member of our apple family…. Breeze!

The Breeze has a solid pink-red blush over a yellow background. It is aromatic and sweet with a crisp, dense white flesh. Breeze are originally from New Zealand and have been made available to us through our partnership with Freshco. They are harvested for a two-week period at the end of February, and then shipped to the United States for a mid-April arrival. 

Due to the increasing demand for the Breeze apple, growers in New Zealand have already doubled their production. And now, we at Sage Fruit, have acreage in Washington as well. Soon, Breeze apples will be available year-round!

Apples from New Zealand?

Why?  First, New Zealand grows apples very similar to the way we do here in Washington State. Their growing regions mimic ours; they have warm summer days, cool summer nights and crisp winters. Because of this, they are able to produce the same quality of product that we do. Second, when it’s Spring here, it’s Fall there, which means their harvest occurs as our volume is decreasing. We don’t import ALL varieties, but there are a few, that for one reason or another, the state of Washington cannot provide for a full 365 days. In order to keep consumers supplied with their favorite apple varieties all year, we use the different growing seasons to our advantage. Plus, they have new and delicious varieties (like Breeze!) they want to share too.

Have you tried a Breeze?

No? Well, we’re giving you a chance to “Taste the Breeze!” You can enter for your opportunity to win a sample box + $100 Amazon gift card right here. Be sure to look for them in your produce department, and, if you don’t see them, ask your Produce Manager!

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