The 2018 harvest of Northwest grown pears, hand-picked and hand-packed with care by Pacific Northwest growers, is now available in grocery stores. Starting in early August with the picking of Bartlett and Starkrimson pears, the harvest season will last through late September with remaining varieties including Anjou, Bosc and Comice. This year's harvest is estimated to yield 900 million pounds of pears from Washington's Wenatchee and Yakima districts and Oregon's Mid-Columbia and Medford districts.
Consumers have plenty of reasons to rejoice over this year's bounty of perfectly delicious pears. "Providing quality pears is our top priority and this year is no different. Shoppers can expect to find excellent quality pears from the Pacific Northwest this year," stated Kevin Moffitt, President and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest.
The start of harvest season also kicks off actress Amy Smart's new role as official spokesperson for USA Pears. Known for her roles in hit films like Just Friends and The Butterfly Effect, and her upcoming role in Tyson's Run, Smart has also established herself as a trusted voice of sustainable living and healthy eating – even tending her own garden at home.
"Knowing where my food comes from is one of my highest priorities, and when I visited Oregon to see the harvest for myself I was incredibly inspired by the pride and dedication of the pear growers," says Smart. "Harvest time is a special time, and I'm so happy I could see the start of this year's pear crop before it made its way to stores."
Smart will be working with USA Pears throughout the 2018-19 pear season to share her favorite pear-inspired recipes, featuring many of the ten varieties of pears, as well as important tips on how to enjoy pears to the fullest.
For more information:
Caitlin Cecala Tel: (503) 471-6829
Email: caitlin.cecala@edelman.com
www.usapears.org