Pears are not only delicious, they are also packed with health benefiting nutrients. They are very good sources of fiber as well as vitamin B2, C, E, copper, and potassium. These sweet, crunchy and juicy fruits also contain anti-oxidants and anti-carcinogen glutathione which help prevent cancer, high blood pressure, and stroke.
Unripe and properly packed, fresh pears make great gifts. If you have a stash of pears you want to share with friends and family, here are some tips on how to properly pack and ship pears to ensure that they arrive in the best condition possible.
Only ship pears that are a bit unripe. Fruits that are already on their prime ripeness can rot while in transit and affect the others in the package. Unripe fruits, on the other hand, can stay fresh longer. Wipe the pears with dry cloth to ensure that it they are completely dry when you pack them. Moisture can encourage the growth of molds and mildew.
Wrap each pear in bubble wrap and place inside a sturdy shipping box with a layer of packing materials such as crumpled paper, bubble wrap or packing peanuts on the bottom. Also keep the pears in the center of the box and away from the sides. Fill the sides of the box with packing materials to protect the fruits from impact due to bumps and falls.
There should be packing materials between layers of pears. Fill any void in the box with packing materials to prevent the fruits from moving and bumping into each other while in transit.
Close the box and shake to check if the contents are moving. If there is no movement, seal the package with packaging tape. Otherwise, fill the box with more packaging materials until there is no movement before sealing shut.
Alternatively, you can ask your local grocery store for pear boxes or crates. These are usually just discarded so you can even have them for free if you ask nicely. These containers usually come with foam trays that hold the fruits in place. Just make sure that the used boxes are sturdy and can still provide optimum protection to your apples. Also, remove any labels/bar codes from a re-used box or wrap it in brown shipping paper to avoid issues with scanners and electronic readers.
Address the box and attach shipping labels. Take the package to your local post office or shipping company. Avoid shipping near a weekend or holidays to avoid the risk that the fruits will sit in a holding facility for extended periods of time.