Asian Pear Varieties
Every year we harvest up to 16 different varieties of Asian pears, each one ripening at a different time. The most popular varieties grown at the orchard are listed below, in approximate order of picking.
One of the earliest to ripen, Shinsui is medium sized with a orange-brown russetted skin.
The flesh is off-white, crispy, very juicy and very sweet.
Shinsui will keep in the refrigerator crisper for approximately for 1 month.
Sweet "N" Sour was developed by Virginia Gold Orchard and is superior to most of the traditional varieties developed in Asia.
Sweet "N" Sour is green to yellow in color, with smooth skin.
The flesh is white, firm, crisp, very juicy, and sweet with lots of flavors.
Sweet "N" Sour will keep in the refrigerator crisper up to 4 months.
Sunburst was developed at Virginia Gold Orchard. Many customers ask for this pear in preference to other pears grown at our orchard.
Fruit is large with a "splash of russet" around the stem and a yellow skin.
Flesh is white, tender, crisp, juicy, and very sweet. The flavor is unique with a hint of ginger according to some customers.
Sunburst will keep in the refrigerator crisper for 6 months.
Autumn Sweet is the most difficult to grow of all pears grown at Virginia Gold Orchard.
Autumn Sweet is a golden orange russetted pear.
Medium to large in size with a slightly roughened skin, Autumn Sweet is very sweet and juicy.
Autumn Sweet will keep in the refrigerator for 1 month.
Shin Li is large in size, crisp and juicy.
Under its yellow-green skin and russetted spots is a white flesh that is sweet and tart in taste.
Shin Li will keep in the refrigerator up to 3 months.
Daisu Li is large and green in skin color.
The flesh of Daisu Li is very white and slightly coarse, crisp, sweet, with a bit of tartness.
Daisu Li will keep in the refrigerator up to 3 months.
Arirang is a Korean pear and one of the best, late ripening varieties.
The original name in Korean means "sweet pear."
Arirang is a large attractive orange-brown pear is very crisp, very sweet and juicy.
Arirang's flesh is firm and Arirang will keep in the refrigerator crisper up to 6 months.
Atago pear has orange-russetted skin.
Atago's flesh is crisp, sweet with a slight tartness.
Atago will keep in the refrigerator crisper up to 4 months.
Shinko pears are golden brown in color with yellow-white flesh.
Shinko has a juicy, sweet taste.
It will keep in the refrigerator crisper up to 4 months.