The martin sec is a small and uniformly shaped pear. Its skin is rough and rusty colored and the flesh is whitish and grainy, not overly juicy but very aromatic and fragrant.

It is a fruit that is primarily used in syrup; when cooked in wine, it assumes a red color like its skin and attains a special softness. It is advisable to wait at least 20-30 days from the time it is picked if you desire to eat it raw.

Its sale in Valle d'Aosta is primarily in the hands of Cofruits, a farmer cooperative in Saint-Pierre, which has launched a line of products onto the market based on the martin sec, such as jams and juices.