Category Archives: Events

Go Ducks!

Brittany By on

It’s game day! Tonight, the University of Oregon Ducks face off against the Auburn University Tigers for the BCS Championship title. Our office is excited for the game, especially our president, Kevin—he’s a U of O alum and a proud Ducks fan. So when he realized that USA Pears naturally come in Ducks colors, we decided to get creative with our game day celebration! Here’s what we dished up: Yes, it is as delicious as it looks. Since you’ve seen the final product, I thought I’d give you a sneak peek behind the scenes of a photo shoot. Secret #1: All the food is real. We often eat it after the shoot has ended. Secret #2: That table isn’t exactly a table… The main trick to making a shoot look realistic and appetizing is the lighting, so re-creating the table Continue reading →

Pear Bowl 2010

Brittany By on

Last Friday, the Cashmere Bulldogs faced off against the Cascade Kodiaks of Leavenworth in the 40th annual Pear Bowl. The rivalry takes place in the heart of our pear growing regions in central Washington, where the teams are friendly, but the competition is fierce! Cashmere continued its winning streak this year, defeating the Kodiaks 35-6 and clinching the title for the fourth consecutive year. Bosco joined the team mascots and cheerleading squads to rally the crowds with fleece USA Pears hats and plush Pear Buddies. After the game, Leavenworth Echo Sports Editor Ian Dunn chose the Pear of the Game. This year, the Pear of the Game players were Cascade senior wide receiver Ethan Nash and Cashmere quarterback Tyler McNair. Congratulations! Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn

Runner’s Delight

Amy Kweller MS, RD By on

I finally did it, I ran my first half marathon! I completed 5k and 10k races in the past, but always wanted to run a half marathon. Well, last weekend, months of training culminated in the Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon on a beautiful day in the heart of Denver. The course featured lush parks, mountain and skyline views, and plenty of music to keep the runners on their toes. I even had my own personal cheering section; dear friends and my husband met me at several places along the course to give me a much needed boost! The first 8 miles felt really comfortable, and despite some foot discomfort between miles 8 and 9, I got my second wind and finished the race strong. The training and cheering certainly paid off – I exceeded my personal goals. But I Continue reading →

Epicurious Entertained

Brittany By on

Last week, I traveled to New York City with my co-workers to represent USA Pears at the second annual Epicurious Entertains NYC event. Let me tell you, Epicurious entertained! Cristie, Lynsey, and I had a great time sampling pears for New York foodies, chefs, and kids. Consumers were able to taste fresh Comice, Bosc, Bartlett, and Starkrimson pears—for some, it was their first time to taste the varieties fresh from the tree! On Friday, we watched legendary chef and cookbook author Madhur Jaffrey create dishes from her brand-new cookbook. She was followed up by Dorie Greenspan, who prepared her favorite recipes from her cookbook, Around My French Table. On Saturday, we partied, danced, and snacked with kids! They sampled fresh pears, took home a ripe Bartlett in their pear packers, and decorated aprons on the roof deck. These kids loved Continue reading →

Hood River Harvest Ride

Brittany By on

I’ll be at the Hood River Fairgrounds bright (cross your fingers) and early on Saturday morning for the second annual Harvest Ride. I won’t be on a bike, but you should be! The Harvest Ride offers five different riding paths through the beautiful countryside surrounding Hood River. While on your ride, you can take a break at one of the many farm stands and purchase a healthy natural snack. If your eyes are bigger than your appetite, you can leave your purchased pears or apples behind and the HRHR crew will bring them back to the fairgrounds for you! Join hundreds of other bike enthusiasts for food, a great ride, and a celebration of the Columbia Valley’s bounty. Registration includes a finish-line lunch. Space is going quickly, so sign up now! Check out the site for more info: www.hrharvestride.com. If Continue reading →

Epicurious Entertains NYC

Brittany By on

Forget the Big Apple. From September 29 through October 3, New York City will be the Big Pear. USA Pears will be flying off of plates and tongues at one of the city’s hottest foodie festivals: Epicurious Entertains NYC. We can’t wait to join Epicurious at their second annual event in the heart of SoHo. We’ll be sampling fresh pears, tasting the city’s best dishes, and learning from some of the world’s best chefs, including Mario Batali, Marcus Samuelsson, and Lidia Bastianich. If you’re in the New York area, get your tickets now! They’re going fast. Visit epicurious.com for more information, including a full lineup of food events and big names. We’ll see you there! Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn

Sauteed Bosc Pears

Brittany By on

This simple, tasty pear recipe was created and demonstrated by “Top Chef” Chef Jamie Lauren and renowned cookbook author Mollie Katzen at the Food for Your Whole Life Health Symposium this week. If you can’t find Bosc pears at your local grocery store, red or green Anjou pears also work well. Enjoy this sweet treat! Ingredients 2 tablespoons butter 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 6 Bosc pears, peeled, cored, and quartered Juice of 1/2 lemon 1 ½ cup nonfat vanilla yogurt or frozen yogurt 1/2 cup chopped, toasted California walnuts Directions To prepare pears, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in spices and cook for 30 seconds or until aromatic. Add pears and cook for 15 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Stir in lemon juice. Serve with nonfat vanilla Continue reading →

Food for Your Whole Life

Amy Kweller MS, RD By on

This past weekend, I attended the Food for Your Whole Life Health Symposium in New York City with the likes of Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Michael Roizen, and cookbook author Mollie Katzen. The overarching theme focused on finding the right diet and lifestyle tools to help anyone achieve wellness throughout life. Overwhelmingly, the research described a path of eating a plant-based diet and regularly engaging in physical activity to slow the aging process. At this time of year, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July allow us to pay tribute to the American spirit and memorialize the price many Americans paid to protect this country. In his presentation “America’s Wellness Tipping Point,” Dr. Oz made a point that struck a chord with me. He said, “Do you want to be patriotic? Lose some belly fat.” What he means is this: Continue reading →

Celebrating Pear Blossoms!

Lynsey By on

Spring is here. If you couldn’t tell by the calendar or the weather (in my neck of the woods, we’re experiencing more than our fair share of April showers), Mother Nature is proving it with the blossoms that are popping up in front yards, gardens, and, of course, orchards! This weekend I had the pleasure of taking a quick day trip to Hood River, Oregon (part of our Mid-Colombia growing region) for the annual Blossom Festival. Although the skies were partly cloudy, temperatures were warm, and the small white blossoms made their debut in the orchards that will be full of our favorite fruit in just a few months. Similar events are taking place throughout the Pacific Northwest, home to the growing regions of USA Pears. Medford, Oregon hosted its Pear Blossom Run on April 10, and Leavenworth, Washington (in Continue reading →

This Weekend: Wine, Cheese & Pear Jubilee!

Jenny By on

If you’re going to be in the Willamette Valley this weekend, don’t miss the 7th Annual “Wine, Cheese & Pear Jubilee” at Willamette Valley Vineyards. You’ll have the chance to sample award-winning wines paired with local artisan cheeses and of course, Oregon grown pears! We’ll be there sampling ripe pears, so come on by and see us! P.S. The $5 admission includes a free Riedel wine glass! Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn