PEAR VARIETIES

When people think of fruit from the Pacific Northwest, they usually think of apples. But our region also is the nation’s leading source of pears – providing more than 80% of this delicious and healthy fruit. Pears are available year-round and there are tons of great reasons to make them a regular part of your diet. A single pear provides about a quarter of your daily fiber. Because they are high in fiber and pectin, they calm digestion, lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of colon cancer. Low on the glycemic index, they help control sugar levels. They are also extraordinarily high in anti-inflammatory flavonoids and antioxidants that fight against free radicals and boost your immune system – including vitamin C, vitamin K, copper and boron. And they are often one of the first food babies eat because they are considered hypoallergenic – less likely to produce an allergic reaction than other fruits. Oh, and did we mention, they are delicious?