We have a return of great fresh, local product again this fall: Nijisseiki (or 20th Century) Asian Pears.  These are grown in Hood River County, Oregon.  These fruits are crisp with a bright sweet flavor and are very juicy. Slice and eat raw, or use them in any receipe in place of an apple or a pear.  They go great with vegetables with a bit of a bite, like radish, cauliflower, arugula, or daikon.  

And also... Why are there earwigs in my Asian pears? Good question. 

The Donor, NatureKist Fruit Company hand wraps individual pear blossoms on the trees in a special fruit bag to protect the pear as it grows into a mature piece of fruit. The bags keep the pear skins super tender and ensures that the fruit stays free of cosmetic damage during the growing process. While these bags do an awesome job of protecting the fruit, they also provide a nice resting place for insects who inhabit the trees. Namely, our friend the Earwig. While Earwigs can be hard on the eyes, they pose no food safety issues. We have elected to keep the papers on the fruit during repack to keep the fruit from bruising. This means you will see some earwigs inside the paper.  

If you have concerns, please email us at orders@oregonfoodbank.org