Festival a growing success for Hood River
Festival a growing success for Hood River
The Hood River Valley is awash with blooming fruit trees, and to celebrate the role that agriculture plays in the region, Genevieve Scholl-Erdmann, marketing director for the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce, said visitors can expect the 53rd annual Hood River Valley Blossom Festival to be spectacular. The event takes place April 21-22.
"[The festival] celebrates the agricultural way of life," she told The Produce News, adding that approximately 18,000 people attended last year's event.
The growing region is composed of more than 15,000 acres of fruit trees under production. According to the Hood River Grower-Shipper Association, pears account for 92 percent of all fruit trees in production in the region. In all, "79.6 percent of fresh pears grown in Oregon come from the Hood River region," said Cristie Mather, communications manager for the Pear Bureau Northwest in Portland, OR.
Mount Hood, which is still draped in snow, serves as the event's signature backdrop. "The [pear tree blossoms] really peak for this one week in April," Ms. Scholl-Erdmann stated.
A 47-mile blossom festival driving tour has been developed to showcase the growing region, and Ms. Scholl-Erdmann said that special blossom-time activities would take place along the way.
"There are over 25 different venues along the loop celebrating the festival this year and all are worth the trip," she said. "It's a beautiful drive."
Activiities will include a craft show, antique expo, quilt show, pansy party and the Grange Blossom Dinner. Special excursions will also be offered aboard the Mount Hood Railroad.
Chamber volunteers will be located at exits along Interstate 84 and will be there to provide event-goers with a map brochure and to answer questions. Ms. Scholl-Erdmann said that the event gives the chamber an opportunity to encourage visitors to buy fruit grown in the United States.
Neil Galone, vice president of marketing for Diamond Fruit Growers Inc. in Odell, OR, said that the blossom festival is an important community event. "It does create interest among the community and reminds people of the significant role farmers play," Mr. Galone said. "A lot of people come from areas that aren't agricultural. This helps them understand where food comes from."
"[The festival] celebrates the agricultural way of life," she told The Produce News, adding that approximately 18,000 people attended last year's event.
The growing region is composed of more than 15,000 acres of fruit trees under production. According to the Hood River Grower-Shipper Association, pears account for 92 percent of all fruit trees in production in the region. In all, "79.6 percent of fresh pears grown in Oregon come from the Hood River region," said Cristie Mather, communications manager for the Pear Bureau Northwest in Portland, OR.
Mount Hood, which is still draped in snow, serves as the event's signature backdrop. "The [pear tree blossoms] really peak for this one week in April," Ms. Scholl-Erdmann stated.
A 47-mile blossom festival driving tour has been developed to showcase the growing region, and Ms. Scholl-Erdmann said that special blossom-time activities would take place along the way.
"There are over 25 different venues along the loop celebrating the festival this year and all are worth the trip," she said. "It's a beautiful drive."
Activiities will include a craft show, antique expo, quilt show, pansy party and the Grange Blossom Dinner. Special excursions will also be offered aboard the Mount Hood Railroad.
Chamber volunteers will be located at exits along Interstate 84 and will be there to provide event-goers with a map brochure and to answer questions. Ms. Scholl-Erdmann said that the event gives the chamber an opportunity to encourage visitors to buy fruit grown in the United States.
Neil Galone, vice president of marketing for Diamond Fruit Growers Inc. in Odell, OR, said that the blossom festival is an important community event. "It does create interest among the community and reminds people of the significant role farmers play," Mr. Galone said. "A lot of people come from areas that aren't agricultural. This helps them understand where food comes from."
