The best way to check for ripeness of a pear is to "check the neck.”

Beautiful and delicious Northwest-grown USA Pears are in season now and the season was recently celebrated at ECCO when Chef Craig Richards showcased his latest work with fresh pears, treating an intimate group of local bloggers and writers, including me to an exclusive four-course pear-centric menu. Our first course: Pear & Fall Lettuces Salad, second course: Pear & Buffalo Mozzarella Ravioli, and Shrimp Risotta, third course: Braided Veal Breast and fourth course: Pear Crostata.

Our host, the Pear Bureau Northwest, was in Atlanta—one of eight cities—for “The Time is Ripe” tour to educate folks on how to enjoy pears at peak ripeness. According to the USA Pears Bureau, about 84% of consumers are unaware of how to tell when a pear is ripe—including me. So how do you know when a pear is ripe? Because pears ripen from the inside out, the best way to check for ripeness is to “check the neck.” To do this, gently press near the stem with your thumb. When it gives to gentle pressure it is ripe, juicy, and ready to eat. If you wait until the pear is soft around the middle, then it will be overripe.

Learn more about the USA Pears Varieties: Green Anjou, Red Anjou, Bartlett, Red Bartlett, Bosc, Comice, Concorde, Forelle, Seckel and Starkrimson and more about USA pears at www.usapears.org.