Pear Bureau Northwest announced the 40 winners of its inaugural “Pear Up with USA Pears” display contest. The contest invited all retailers from across the U.S. and Canada to build an eye-catching display that features Green Anjou, Red Anjou, and Bosc pears at minimum, with inclusion of other varieties of USA Pears being encouraged. To qualify for the contest, the display was required to be maintained for at least one week during the February-to-March timeframe.Taking second place for the six to nine registers category was Mike Viers of Food Giant in Jackson, TN.

Entries were judged on a 100-point scale for appearance, creativity and educational effect. Ten bonus points were added to entries that included any of the jumbo-size pears that have been readily available this pear season. As recognition for their participation, all who entered were awarded a gift card for Amazon.com valued at $20.

First-, second- and third-place winners, as well as 10 honourable mentions, were named in three store categories (one to five cash registers, six to nine cash registers, and 10 or more cash registers), and a tie for first place resulted in one extra winner, for a total of 40 cash prizes being awarded.

"We received hundreds of truly impressive, very competitive entries that showed outstanding creativity in merchandising pears," Cristie Mather, Pear Bureau Northwest director of communications, said in a press release. "Because pears are a high impulse purchase item, these eye-catching displays drew shoppers in and participating retailers reported that they boosted their pear sales.

"We are pleased to have had such enthusiastic participation in this first year of our national display contest, and we are grateful to all the produce departments nationwide who create beautiful pear displays all throughout pear season,” she added.

Winners in each store category have received $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place, $500 for third place and $150 each for an honorable mention.

The winners for the one to five cash registers category:
First place: Shiela Burt, Mike’s Food Center, St. Charles, MN
Second place: Kelly Kesler, Kesler’s Market, Blackfoot, ID
Third place: Leslie MacAulay, Sackville Co-op Food Market, Sackville, NB, Canada

Honorable Mentions:
Rex Titch, TOPS Markets, Waterford, PA
Christopher Vorhies, Leon’s Gourmet Grocer, Lincoln, NE
Efren Pinera, Hilltop Red Apple, Seattle
Donald Oberg, Donelan’s Supermarkets, Lincoln, MA
Craig Alley, Ideal Grocery, Lincoln, NE
Susann Kotarba, Harding’s Friendly Markets, Eau Claire, MI
Dan Vanauker, TOPS Markets, Ontario, NY
Lauren Lyons, Creekside Co-op, Elkins Park, PA
Michelle Heneby, Marvin’s Food Stores, Dewey, OK
Patsy Frazier, Homeland, Shawnee, OK

The winners for the six to nine cash registers category:
First place: Michael Callahan, Ray’s Food Place, McKinleyville, CA
First place: Eric Dodge, Hy-Vee, Waterloo, IA
Second place: Mike Viers, Food Giant, Jackson, TN
Third place: David Dozier, GFF Foods, Moore, OK

Honorable Mentions:
Judy Gauthier, Buy-Low Foods, Athabasca, AB, Canada
Michael Garrett, Rosauers Supermarkets, Yakima, WA
Al Polard, Chuck’s Produce and Street Market, Vancouver, WA
Jason Richards, Nature’s Pantry, Independence, MO
Brian Metcalfe, Marsh Supermarkets, Carmel, IN
Derek Christensen, The Port Townsend Food Co-op, Port Townsend, WA
Joe Ruiz, Ray’s Food Place, Cloverdale, CA
Mike Midura, Fresh Acres Market, Springfield, MA
Davi Andre, Sprouts, San Diego
Dennis Houghton, Sprouts, San Antonio, TX

The winners for the 10 or more cash registers category are:
First place: Dan Atkinson, Hy-Vee, Iowa City, IA
Second place: John Sherman, Hy-Vee, Council Bluffs, IA
Third place: Josh Pederson, Hy-Vee, Winona, MN

Honorable Mentions:
Derek Perisho, Hy-Vee, Olathe, KS
Kelsey Bartels, Martin’s IGA Plus, Effingham, IL
Brad Franklin, TOPS Markets, Towanda, PA
Jessica Granier, Rouse’s Market, Thibodaux, LA
Andy Crane, Chuck’s Produce and Street Market, Vancouver, WA
Brandon Everett, Rouses Market, Slidell, LA
John Braun, Rouses Market, Covington, LA
Mario DeCaro, TOPS Market, Cheektowaga, NY
John Hugger, Rouses Market, Metairie, LA
Bryan Burch, Hy-Vee, Kansas City, MO