Sunrise pears are an early-season pear, bright yellow with a soft red blush and firm, juicy, aromatic flesh. The name fits the calendar: Sunrise pears ripen about two weeks ahead of Bartletts, arriving in late summer as one of the first pears of the year. The flavor is sweet and mellow with a honeyed finish and no tartness, close to a Bartlett in character, but a touch firmer when ripe. Eat them slightly crisp for a cleaner bite or let them soften on the counter for full aroma, slice them into salads with arugula and shaved cheese, roast halves with honey, or set them out on a cheese board. They pair especially well with aged cheddar, hazelnuts, honey, and arugula.

