Latest News From Pears

USA Pears will host a booth for the first time at the March 9-10 SXSW Conference and Festival, which attracts half a million people to Austin, Texas. 

The Port of Virginia, Norfolk, expects to see imports of fruit from South America increase with the completion of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Southeast In-Transit Cold Treatment Pilot program.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers will no longer use anti-ripening agents on pears, saying they compromise optimum flavor.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers will no longer use anti-ripening agents on pears, stating that doing so compromises quality.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — For retailers interested in promoting organic pears, now is the time.

Flu and allergy seasons — also called winter and spring — are when Pear Bureau Northwest will gear its promotions toward living a healthy lifestyle with a nutritious diet.

The American Heart Association’s Heart-Check can now be used on all 10 varieties of Northwest pears with the USA Pears brand.

Albert’s Fresh Produce is promoting pears with Pear Bureau Northwest, through Pear-a-Palooza contents.

USA Pears is celebrating National Pear Month in December by giving away a box of pears to a lucky fan of the fruit.

Pear Bureau Northwest is taking National Pear Month global.

Fresh pears grown in Oregon and Washington will be subject to a small increase in marketing order assessments for the 2018-19 season.

The Pear Bureau Northwest, Portland, Ore., has hired Angela Daniels as event coordinator.

You might call Andy Tudor a matchmaker.

The Pear Bureau Northwest plans an “aggressive” reintroduction of a conditioned pear program, and is teaming up with the National Mango Board to drive home to retailers the importance of stocking ready-to-eat fruit.

Catch up on a few quick updates from grower-shippers and marketers of Pacific Northwest pears.

Lodi, Calif.-based Rivermaid Trading Co. has added two new growers to its Northwest pear program, said Scott Martinez, vice president of sales and the program’s manager in Medford, Ore.

A new video series from USA Pears/Pear Bureau Northwest gives consumers a close up look at the work and the beauty of the pear harvest.

Selah, Wash.-based Rainier Fruit announced a new Wholesome to the Core holiday marketing program called “Pears for Pairs.” 

Morning Kiss Organic is adding imported and domestic organic kiwifruit and pears to its offering, with year-round supplies of both items.

It’s a busy time of year for pear marketers, who are working with retailers to move as much fruit as possible.

The Northwest pear industry likely will have to live without China this season, but export markets elsewhere appear to be wide open.

A bigger Northwest pear crop will give retailers plenty of promotion opportunities this year.

Pear marketers can expect a lot more fruit to market this year than they had in 2017, according to the latest forecast from the Milwaukie, Ore.-based Pear Bureau Northwest.

Portland, Ore.-based USA pears kicked off the start of the 2018 harvest season with actress Amy Smart’s new role as official spokesperson for the group.

The California apple crop isn't big, but growers promote their crop with gusto during their short marketing window, from early August into early September.

Northwest pear growers are starting the season with an estimated 20.2 million 44-pound box equivalents, which is the fourth-largest crop in history.

European apple production in 2018 will be way up and the region’s pear output will grow moderately, according to a new forecast.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers reports its Rushing Rivers label pear program will begin in mid-August.

Hood River, Ore.-based Diamond Fruit Growers has unveiled a packing line specifically engineered for pears from Unitec.

Hood River, Ore.-based Diamond Fruit Growers has unveiled a packing line specifically engineered for pears from Unitec.

Yakima, Wash.-based Proprietary Variety Management has added Jill Burbery to its marketing staff as marketing project manager.

Northwest pear growers estimate they’ll produce 18.9 million standard box equivalents, which at 415,000 tons for the fresh market is an 18% increase from the small 2017 harvest, but equal to the five-year average.

Northwest pear growers estimate they’ll produce 18.9 million standard box equivalents, which at 415,000 tons for the fresh market is an 18% increase from the small 2017 harvest, but equal to the five-year average.

Pear Bureau Northwest, Milwaukie, Ore., is bringing back its USA Pears How Do You Anjou? Instagram contest for the third year.

The Oppenheimer Group’s Southern Hemisphere organic apple season is beginning with royal gala apples from Argentina.

Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers has added organic bartletts and anjous from Argentina as it moves to a year-round organic pear program.

Selah, Wash.-based Rainier Fruit is expanding its focus on promoting active lifestyles through a partnership with Wanderlust, a yoga event company.

Hazel Technologies, working with Cornell University, has completed research into extending the shelf life of pears.

February is American Heart Month, and March is National Nutrition Month, and Pear Bureau Northwest is getting on board with promotional efforts.

USA Pears is celebrating American Heart Month in February with consumer promotions focused on benefits of regularly eating pears.

Pear Bureau Northwest is all set to celebrate World Pear Day, Dec. 2.

As the holiday season gets underway in earnest, Stemilt Growers is encouraging retailers to promote its Lil Snappers Artisan Organics pears.

Chelan, Wash.-based fruit grower-shipper Chelan Fresh reports 100% year-over-year growth in its organic program in 2017, thanks to its deal with Columbia Valley Fruit.

Pear lovers worldwide will be able to take part in Pear Bureau Northwest/USA Pears’ World Pear Day activities to kick off National Pear Month.

Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers will be ramping up organic apple and pear production to meet continued demand.

(UPDATED, Nov. 14) China is expected to demand more apple imports from the U.S. and other countries in 2017-18, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Diamond Fruit president and CEO David Garcia, the newest chairman of Pear Bureau Northwest, started his career in the produce industry as a 25-year-old with an accounting degree.

NEW ORLEANS — Sprouts Farmers Market maintained its dominance in the Pear Retailer of the Year award, winning for a second year in a row.

McAllen, Texas-based Fox Solutions has added a “soft fill” capability to its Pouch Bagger machine so that it can better handle apples, pears, peaches and plums.

Stemilt Growers invites consumers to submit their favorite “pearings” for the chance to win a shipment of Rushing Rivers specialty pears along with a cutting board and a paring knife.