From Coast to Coast, Discover the Sweetest Spots to Harvest Pears This Season
As pear season ripens from late summer through fall, pear picking at many orchards across the United States is a thing. Farms open their gates for visitors to pick fresh, juicy pears right from the trees. From the fertile valleys of Oregon and California to the charming countryside of New York, Wisconsin, and beyond, these U-pick farms offer a unique opportunity to harvest your own Bartlett, Bosc, Anjou, and Asian pears. Whether planning a family outing or just looking to enjoy the beauty of the harvest season, these orchards provide a perfect escape with seasonal fruit and picturesque landscapes.
Here’s a list of places across the USA where you can pick pears during pear season (typically late summer through fall):
West Coast:
Hood River Valley, Oregon
Known for: Bartlett, Bosc, and Anjou pears.
Best Time: Late August through September.
Popular Spot: Kiyokawa Family Orchards.
Sebastopol, California
Known for: Comice and Bartlett pears.
Best Time: August through September.
Popular Spot: Apple-A-Day Ratzlaff Ranch.
Apple Hill, Placerville, California
Known for: Bartlett pears.
Best Time: Late August through September.
Popular Spot: Boa Vista Orchards.
Leona Valley, California
Known for: Bartlett and Bosc pears.
Best Time: September to early October.
Popular Spot: Villa del Sol Sweet Cherry Farms.
Midwest:
Door County, Wisconsin
Known for: Bartlett pears.
Best Time: Late August to September.
Popular Spot: Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery & Market.
Southwest Michigan
Known for: Bartlett pears.
Best Time: August through September.
Popular Spot: Crane Orchards U-Pick and Corn Maze.
East Coast:
Champlain Valley, New York
Known for: Bartlett, Seckel, and Bosc pears.
Best Time: September to October.
Popular Spot: Samascott Orchards.
Hudson Valley, New York
Known for: Bartlett and Bosc pears.
Best Time: September.
Popular Spot: Fishkill Farms.
Central Pennsylvania
Known for: Bartlett and Asian pears.
Best Time: September.
Popular Spot: Paulus Orchards.
Fairfield County, Connecticut
Known for: Bartlett and Bosc pears.
Best Time: September.
Popular Spot: Silverman’s Farm.
South:
Georgia (North Georgia Mountains)
Known for: Bartlett and Asian pears.
Best Time: Late August through September.
Popular Spot: Hillcrest Orchards.
Central Virginia (Shenandoah Valley)
Known for: Bartlett and Bosc pears.
Best Time: September.
Popular Spot: Carter Mountain Orchard.
These places offer a chance to pick fresh, seasonal pears, often with beautiful backdrops and fun family activities!
TIPS: When it comes to pear picking, timing and technique are key. Since pears ripen from the inside out, a simple test to check for ripeness is to press gently near the stem—if it gives slightly, the pear is ready to be picked. Keep an eye on color changes as well, with varieties like Bartlett shifting from green to yellow when they’re ripening. It’s often best to pick pears while they’re still firm and allow them to ripen at home. By storing them at room temperature, they’ll gradually soften and sweeten. Once ripe, transfer them to the fridge to preserve their freshness longer.
Did you know?
Pears have been cultivated over thousands of years, and they are one of the few fruits that improve in flavor and texture after being picked. Unlike many fruits, pears ripen from the inside out, so they are often harvested when firm. To check if a pear is ripe, gently press near the stem; if it yields to pressure, it’s ready to eat! Additionally, pears are one of the highest-fiber fruits, offering about 6 grams per medium pear, making them great for digestive health.
A little history:
Pears have a history dating back over 4,000 years, originating in Western Asia and Europe—ancient civilizations, including the Greeks and Romans, highly valued pears for their sweetness and medicinal properties. Homer even praised them as “gifts from the gods” in The Odyssey. The cultivation of pears spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, becoming a staple fruit for royalty and commoners alike. When European settlers came to the Americas, they brought pear seeds, leading to the development of various pear varieties we know today. Pears became especially popular in the United States in the Pacific Northwest, where the climate proved ideal for growing the fruit.
