Best Ever Pair of Pears
Posted on March 16, 2009
The seventh verse of the famous Korean folk song "Arirang" roughly translates to: "Birds in the morning sing simply to eat, birds in the evening sing for love sweet." But any bird that's ever seen a FruitGuys box knows that singing for the love of sweet things AND getting to eat them is possible at all hours of the day. This week we're showcasing a terrific twosome for our West Coast customers, with the yes-that's-its-real-name Best Ever Pear, and an Organic Arirang Asian Apple Pear coming from Washington. The Arirang Pear is also commonly known as the Korean Giant and is one of the sweetest varieties of asian pear cultivated in the United States, with a very-low acidity level and a sugar content of up to 20 percent. Arirang is an ancient native Korean word with no clear modern meaning. In modern Korean 'Ari' means 'beautiful,' and 'Rang' can mean 'dear,' but the literal translation of "beautiful dear" is unlikely to match the true meaning of the ancient word. There are several different versions of the famous folk song, but they all deal with the concept of love in a variety of forms. And while The FruitGuys love all our fruits equally and unconditionally, the Best Ever Pear certainly makes a strong case to live up to its name. The Best Ever Pear ripens and eats similarly to a Bartlett but can have increased sugar content. Outwardly, the Best Ever Pear may exhibit signs of "russetting," or spots on the skin that appear to be brown scuffs or discolorations. This is perfectly natural to the variety and does not indicate any damage to the fruit. When the green-tinted skin lightens slightly and the neck of the pear gives to a gentle touch, the Best Ever Pear is ready to eat. It will be slightly astringent if eaten when too firm. Speaking of love songs and romance, what about the heartwarming tale of When Larry Met Anne? East Coast and Midwest customers will have Larry Anne Plums to enjoy this week, deep purple and exceptionally sweet. The Larry Anne is one of the earliest plum varieties to appear in the spring, and one of the sweetest of the entire year. Only an Angeleno Plum can boast a higher average "Brix," or measurement of sugar content. A Larry Anne typically registers from 14-16 on the Brix Scale, translating to 16-20% sugar. And let's not forget that Tuesday, March 17th is St. Patrick's Day. The FruitGuys are providing you with plenty of delicious, healthy green treats this week, to help you avoid the dangerous break room double-whammy of shamrock donuts and pinches from your co-workers. Keep an eye out for organic avocados, green kiwis, Granny Smith Apples, Bartlett and Best Ever Pears. Midwest customers can also keep an eye out for the annual tradition of dyeing the Chicago River green. Check out your regional mix at www.fruitguys.com/mix.shtml for all the pinch-resistant details. Enjoy and be fruitful!
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