As Australians continue feeling pressure at the supermarket checkout, growers and food advocates say one of the healthiest and most affordable foods in the fruit aisle may also be one of the most overlooked – pears. With National Pear Week shining a spotlight on the seasonal fruit, experts say pears are increasingly aligning with major food trends around gut health, fibre, low-GI eating and reducing ultra-processed foods, without the premium price tag attached to many wellness products. Research has consistently shown most Australians are still not consuming enough fibre, despite growing awareness around gut health and digestive wellbeing. Australian research has found Australians fall significantly short of recommended fibre intake targets, with around 83 per cent not meeting suggested dietary fibre levels.[1] Despite their nutritional benefits, pears have increasingly become an overlooked fruit in Australian households, despite remaining one of the more affordable and low-waste options available. Industry figures show household purchasing of pears has declined over the past decade as consumers are increasingly drawn towards newer and more heavily marketed fruit categories. Ben Apted, a fifth-generation pear grower from Apted’s Orchards in Arthurs Creek, north-east of Melbourne, said pear growers had faced a difficult period over the past 15 years as consumer habits changed and pears lost visibility compared to newer and more heavily marketed fruits.
“For a long time pears probably lost a bit of popularity because people weren’t always getting the best eating experience by the time the fruit reached supermarket shelves,” Apted commented “Pears are delicate and seasonal, and I think more direct-to-consumer models are helping people rediscover what a really good pear should actually taste like. We’d love to see more pears back on the table and in lunchboxes.”
Box Divvy Co-Founder Anton van den Berg said the community-based food network was seeing growing interest from consumers wanting healthier whole foods that remained accessible during the cost-of-living crisis.
“We’re seeing more people trying to move away from ultra-processed snacks and expensive convenience foods, but at the same time they’re under enormous financial pressure,” van den Berg commented “Pears are one of those rare foods that genuinely tick a lot of boxes. They’re nutritious, filling, versatile and still relatively affordable compared to many heavily marketed ‘health’ products.”
van den Berg said pears also appealed to consumers wanting foods that created less waste at home. “They keep well, they’re easy to use across lunchboxes, breakfasts and cooking, and they don’t feel intimidating or aspirational. They’re just a really sensible whole food.” van den Berg commented.
Dietitian and Box Divvy member Christina Ross said pears had become a staple in her household because they were affordable, versatile and tended to last longer than many other fruits.
“When groceries are expensive, you really notice which foods actually get eaten and don’t end up wasted,” Ross commented “Pears are one of those fruits that work across the whole week. They go into lunchboxes, breakfasts, snacks and baking, and because they keep well, you don’t feel like you’re throwing money away. There’s also something nice about going back to simple foods that are healthy without needing fancy packaging or wellness marketing.”
Anton said National Pear Week was also an opportunity for Australians to reconnect with seasonal local produce and support Australian growers doing it tough.
“Pears are one of those foods that make sense on so many levels – they’re healthy, affordable, low waste and grown right here in Australia,” van den Berg commented “Sometimes the simplest way to support local farmers is just putting more seasonal produce back on the table and into lunchboxes.”
National Pear Week runs from May 25 – 31, 2026.