A Winter Delight:Asian Pears from Oriana’s Orchard

Have you ever tried Asian Pears? The varieties that Oriana's Orchard, a 61st Street Market stalwart, grows are special. Besides its fresh and delicious taste that you cannot get from any grocery store pears, there is the dedication and resilience of Oriana Kruszewski, the farmer and owner.

Oriana’s Orchard is a 40-acre orchard and farm in Winslow, Illinois, established in 1996. After getting fed up with bland, expensive store-bought varieties that were available, Oriana decided to grow Asian pears herself. She has cultivated many varieties from China, Japan, and Korea, as well as hybrid varieties. Oriana’s pears are sweet and juicy, like a pear, but the outside is hard and crunchy like an apple. They store well and can last for several months when refrigerated.

With everything she grows, the focus is on maximizing taste and nutrition, utilizing tools from nature and no pesticides or herbicides. Her farm has been USDA Organic certified by the Midwest Organic Services Association since 2011.

Along with Asian pears, she has also expanded to growing paw paws, aronia berries, and other specialty fruits. At the market, she also sells raw pear vinegar, kim-chi, watercress, Chinese medicinal herbs and teas, and seasonally available greens.

Interested in learning more about her? Check out a video of her interviewing with Fox32, or sign up to volunteer at her farm. Oriana welcomes volunteers throughout the season to learn and help harvest the bounty.

To pick up Asian pears and other goodies she offers at the market, stop by our market this week. You can talk to her team member, Patric, to learn about a variety of Asian pears and even try a sample!