Growers across Australia have begun the first plantings of QTee pear trees, a new aromatic red pear. Horticulture Brand Management Australia Pty Ltd (HBMA) has the Australian licence for the fruit which consumers should be tasting in the coming years.

The QTee originates from Norway, it is a medium-sized fruit with an intense red blush and green background, has a sweet, aromatic flavour and can be eaten either hard and crunchy or juicy and soft. QTee is characterised by its delicate, juicy flesh which it inherited from its parents Williams and Broket July.

QTee were first planted in Belgium in 2015, they have since been planted in Slovakia, Norway, Switzerland, South Africa, Spain, Austria and France. HBMA General Manager Elisa King said the QTee pear would be planted in the ideal pear growing regions of Goulburn Valley, Adelaide Hills and Manjimup.

“We have the Australian license from ABCz and Fruithandel Wouters and plan to plant for many years to come,” said Miss King. “We are supporting growers with international co-ordination and taking valuable learnings garnered from Europe to apply to Australian conditions.” 

QTee is an early-ripening pear variety that will be harvested in mid to late February. Growing will be controlled with strict quality specifications, making sure only the best quality fruit makes its way onto supermarket and green grocer shelves.

“Consumers biggest barrier to purchase is not knowing how to ripen a pear, so the fact QTee can be eaten crunchy or soft is brilliant,” said Miss King. QTee is a healthy, low-calorie snack that is also ideal for cooking, baking, and preserving – the possibilities are endless.