Oriana's Oriental Orchard

About Oriana's Oriental Orchard

Oriana Kruszewski began growing Asian pears in her Skokie backyard more than 10 years ago because she found store-bought varieties bland and too expensive. Soon out of space, she bought 40 acres in northwestern Illinois, and now grows 20 varieties of pears from China, Japan and Korea, plus hybrids developed in the United States. Oriana has recently added 11 varieties of black currants to her roster of crops.

In an effort to raise 100 percent organic fruit, she selects disease-resistant strains, paints the tree trunks white with latex paint to discourage borers and moths from laying eggs, and prunes out the dense canopy to allow light and ventilation to retard mold and other fungus. She picks fruit when ripe and takes it directly to the Market. "Our orchard was never intended to be commercial," says Oriana, who grew up Hong Kong. "It’s a hobby that got out of hand."