1. (NU) -Adults everywhere are
reaching for healthy snacks
to fuel their families, and a fresh
pear’s juicy, subtle flavor pairs
well with snacks such as al-
monds, walnuts and cheese.
America’s snacking obsession is
about to get fresh with portable,
packable, pair-able pears.
In season nearly year-round,
fresh pears are mainly grown in
Oregon and Washington by 1,600
families, who produce about 84
percent of the nation’s fresh pear
crop. Pears are available in a
range of varieties, from the sig-
nature-sweet Bartlett to the crisp,
woodsy Bosc to the juicy Anjou.
A recent usage study commis-
sioned by USAPears showed that
46 percent of pear consumers eat
them as mid-morning and after-
noon snacks. Pears are often con-
sidered best eaten fresh and just-
sliced, making them a perfect
partner for wholesome, simple
snacking -- think sliced pears atop
whole-grain toast, wrapped with
prosciutto, dipped in nut butters
or partnered with blue or aged,
hard cheeses.
Half of all eating occasions in
the U.S. are now snack-driven.
According to a recent Mintel re-
port on snacking, 94 percent of
Americans snack at least once a
day, compared to just 64 percent
last year. Thirty-three percent say
they are choosing healthier foods
this year compared to last year,
with an emphasis on simple in-
gredients. Millennials are leading
the way and are more likely than
any other demographic to snack
multiple times throughout the day.
Pears are a nutrient-dense, fat-
free food, an excellent source of
fiber and a good source of vita-
min C for only 100 calories per
serving. To tell when a pear is
ripe, simply check the neck.. If
the pear gives slightly to pressure
near the stem end, it’s juicy and
ready for snacking.
With a warm growing season
in the Pacific Northwest, a greater
number of high-quality fruits are
available at a “snackable” size --
perfect for throwing in a lunch-
box, purse or string bag on the
way out the door.
Looking for more simple
snacking tips? Think outside the
cracker box:
• Slice pears atop whole-
grain toast
• Wrap pear slices in prosciutto
• Pair pears with blue cheese,
parmesan or aged white cheddar
• Dip pears into yogurt
• Pack a pear with a small
portion of nuts
• Smear slices with almond or
cashew butter
• Sprinkle diced pears onto
chia pudding
Visit www.usapears.org for
recipes, ripening tips and more.
Pears Make the Perfect Partner
for Wholesome Snacking
FOOD
NewsUSA
It’s the pear-fect snack!
NewsUSA