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The Reason Our Pears Are Wrapped in Gold
There's more to it than just being better than silver or bronze.
Published: Sep 18, 2025 | Modified: Nov 02, 2026
Every box of Royal Riviera Pears from Harry & David holds one pear wrapped in gold foil. Brothers Harry and David Rosenberg started the tradition in 1934 to give their holiday gift boxes an extra touch that conveyed the royalty of this fruit. For over 90 years, that single gold pear has turned a box of beautiful fruit into a small celebration.
When you open a box of Royal Riviera Pears, you see large, sun-kissed fruit with flawless skin. These sought-after pears are beautiful, and when they're perfectly lined up and packed in their box, they resemble something you would see in the produce section of your grocery store. There's just one issue with this: You cannot find these pears in a grocery store.
When you open a box of Royal Riviera Pears, you see large, sun-kissed fruit with flawless skin. And for over 90 years, every box has contained a single pear wrapped in gold.
The tradition of wrapping pears in gold started back in 1934. When brothers Harry and David Rosenberg started sending residents on the East Coast delicious pears as holiday gifts, they knew an extra touch was needed to convey the royalty of this decadent fruit. So in each box, one pear was wrapped in shining gold foil, turning what may seem like a beautiful pear at first glance into a treat fit for a king (they are Royal Riviera Pears after all). The gold foil is a nod to the fruit's royal name, a small signal that this pear is the one to celebrate.
READ MORE: What Kind of Pear Is a Royal Riviera Pear?
These buttery, juicy pears quickly became a holiday tradition for families across the United States. Even though the pears were sweet, succulent, and better than most found in a grocery store, it was that one gold pear that created a celebration in every household.
How Families Enjoy the Gold Pear
Some people go for the gold-wrapped pear first, while others save it for last. There's no wrong way, and over the years we've heard every tradition you can imagine:
- Eating it first
- Saving it for last
- Calling it the best-tasting pear in the box
- Believing it brings good luck to whoever opens and eats it
One woman sent us a letter that fondly described her childhood Christmases when her grandfather would give each child a gold-wrapped pear with a crisp $10 bill.
For over 90 years, Harry & David wrapped the pears in gold and delivered a special moment to families across the country. It's one of the founders' traditions we love the most, and we think they'd be happy to know it's alive and well all these years later.
When did Harry & David start wrapping a pear in gold?
What does the gold-wrapped pear stand for?
How many gold pears come in each box?
Is the gold-wrapped pear sweeter than the others?
Can I find Royal Riviera Pears at the grocery store?
AUTHOR
Autumn Micketti is the Assistant Manager of SEO & Content for 1-800-Flowers. Her love of music has found her writing articles for SPIN, The Siskiyou, and The Verse, and interviewing small and large artists like Mumford & Sons, Maroon 5, and The Weepies. When she's not writing about love songs or Oregold® Peaches, you can find her exploring mountains, listening to the latest album release of her current musical obsession, DJing local events, or spending time with her extended family.
