About Us

The Pear Bureau Northwest was established in 1931 as the non-profit marketing organization to promote, advertise and develop markets for the fresh pears grown in Washington and Oregon. Pears from these two Pacific Northwest states are distributed under the USA Pears brand.

The United States is the third largest pear producing country in the world, and 87% of the fresh pears grown in the U.S. come from Oregon and Washington – where moisture from meandering rivers and glacial snowmelt feeds the region’s nutrient-rich volcanic soil to make the perfect foundation for pear tree nourishment.

The 900 pear growerfamilies and 50 packers and shippers represented by the Northwest pear industry take pride in their ability to produce top-quality fresh USA Pears for the world market. For more information, visit www.usapears.org!

15 thoughts on “About Us”

  1. me gustaria que esta pagina tambien este en español, por que hay cosas muy interesantes pero no entiendo en ingles. de todos modos me gusta mucho la pagina y las peras USA son buenisimas solo que avecese en el supermercado no las encontramos en buen estado devido al manejo que le dan a la fruta. a mi hijo le gusta mucho la barlet y a mi la bosc o la red.

    • Hola Elena!
      Lo siento que ahora el sitio está solamente en inglés; sin embargo puedo sugerir que Ud. visite a nuestro sitio español, http://www.perasusa.com. Ofrece información sobre las Peras USA y algunas recetas, etc.

      También, no sé la edad de tu hijo, pero tenemos un sitio para los niños: http://www.clubdeperas.com. Hay muchas actividades y juegos de las peras y la nutrición (recomiendo el juego “Capitan Anjou” – es mi favorito).

      Saludos, Lynsey

      For any Spanish-speaking USA Pear lovers, be sure to check out our Spanish site, http://www.perasusa.com for information and recipes – the redesigned site is launching soon!

      Also, your kids will love http://www.clubdeperas.com where they can do activities and play games with our USA Pear Buddies. I recommend “Capitan Anjou” (Captain Anjou) – it’s my favorite!

  2. What is the name of a green pear that stays very firm and is not very juicy or sweet. I have always called it a cooking pear. I can’t ever find them in a store. Luck would have it that my Aunt has a tree, but she doesn’t know the name either. Can you help?

    • Hi Farrah!
      There are over 3,000 varieties of pears in the world, but perhaps we can figure it out! Is it egg-shaped by chance? If so, it’s probably a green Anjou. They are a firm pear.

  4. SOY DISTRIBUIDOR EN COLOMBIA ME GUSTARIA TENER PUBLICIDAD DE USTEDES EN MI NEGOCIO,LES AGRADESCO ME ORIENTE A QUIEN DEBO PEDIRCELA GRACIAS

    • Hola Mireya, voy a mandar su correo electronico a nuestra representante en Colombia para que ella pueda contactarle. Si necesita algo más, ¡no deje de contactarnos otra vez!

      Saludos,
      Lynsey

  5. Hello pears USA! I attended the Whole Foods Symposium in NYC this spring and recieved one of your pear packers and I love it, I pack my daughter with a fresh pear and it stays nice and perfect. I need another one for my other pear loving daughter in the house. Where can I get another one?? please??? Thanks so much

    • Hi, Suzanne!

      I’m glad you like the pear packers – they’re pretty great, huh? You can purchase more for a very low price at our Marketplace. Check it out at usapearsmarketplace.org.

      Thanks for the post!

      Brittany

  6. Hola

    Somos exportadores e importadores de frutas localizados en Chile. Nos gustaria tener contactos de empaquetadoras y productores de Peras en la costa Este de los Estados Unidos. Es posible obtener esa info a travez de uds?
    Muchas Gracias

  7. Hi
    I purchase my D’Anjou pears at Costco, in NY. The 6 lb bag that I presently have has a pack date on the tag of 2/24/11, today is 4/13/11. The pears have sat on my counter for 7 days out of bag, in a bag, in a bag with a banana and they are still rock hard. The packer is Domex Superfresh Growers, Yakima, Washington.
    Any suggestions or reason why they refuse to ripen. This seems to happen during the winter months. Please advise.
    Thanks

    • Hi, Bob!

      Thanks for your comment. It sounds like you’re handling your pears correctly for ripening. I don’t have the expertise to give you a solid answer as to why your pears aren’t ripening yet, but I can direct you straight to the source for more information. Check out Domex’s website at http://www.superfreshgrowers.com.

      Thanks!
      Brittany

  8. Hi,
    I volunteer @ a foodshelf where “they/we” get cases of pears…I am hoping that you can include me in/on an email list (i.e. recipes, how to tell when ripe,different species, etc.)

    Thanks,

    Miles

    • Miles,

      Thanks for your comment. Absolutely! I’ll add your email address to our monthly e-newsletter, where we share new recipes, ripening information, Pear Bureau news, and other fun facts. Thanks for getting in touch!

      Best,
      Brittany

  9. Would like your assistance to raise awareness of a wonderful event in Southern Oregon.

    This event celebrates the begining of a process where the pear blossoms of spring set the stage for a fruit that ripens in the fall throughout the valley. Southern Oregon’s history is deeply rooted to these pears, their growth, and what they bring back to the people that live here. Generations of families have thrived here due to the many varieties that are grown locally; comice, bartlett, bosc, anjou, etc.

    We celebrate them in many ways: naming streets after them, identifying the state fruit as the pear, and organizing a cast of volunteers during a month long Pear Blossom Festival celebration.

    In 1954, representatives of several Medford groups (including the Fruit Grower’s League, Chamber of Commerce, Merchants Association, American Legion and the school district) met to initiate an event during the spring blossom season. They decided to have a children’s’ parade. A five-year-old, Miss Blossom, was chosen to reign over the 10 floats.

    By 1956, there were 100 floats in the parade, and the festival included a 30-mile tour of the valley’s blooming orchards. Since 1957, children have been chosen festival King and Queen. Motorized floats were allowed in the parade in 1964. Pear Blossom Festival parade marshals have included Governor Holmes (1957), John F. Kennedy (1960), and Frank Shorter (1977) who led over 650 participants in the festival’s first annual mini-marathon.

    Current parade entrants number over 150 with over 5,000 participants. The festival now includes a number of other activities besides the parade; A baby contest, Junior Royalty Pageant, Senior Royalty Scholarship Pageant, the Run, Street Fair, Stamp Show, Smudge Pot Stroll, a celebration of the local artesians, and restaurant challenge of offerings that contain pears.

    Thank you very much.

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