Oregon Senate vote names pear state's official fruit
Oregon Senate vote names pear state's official fruit
The Oregon Senate in Milwaukie voted to designate pears the official state fruit of Oregon, bringing to a close a fruitful endeavor initiated by the Pear Bureau Northwest on behalf of Oregon's 370 pear growers.
Pears are Oregon's top fruit crop and its 10th agricultural commodity overall with a value of $72 million in 2004. Using a multiplier of 1.5 supplied by Oregon State University, this $72 million in farm gate value generates an additional $108 million in income throughout the state. Hood River, Jackson, Wasco, Josephine and Marion are the top-five pear-producing counties in Oregon.
"Pears have been part of Oregon's agriculture since pioneers settled in the state's fertile river valleys. Our growers have a rich tradition here. Many of them are third- and even fourth-generation farmers, and they should be proud of the impact their hard work makes on the state's economy, said Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of the Pear Bureau Northwest. "Having Oregon school children learn about pears as the state fruit, or having our boxes, which are shipped all over the world, labeled with "Oregon's State Fruit" are ways the pear industry and our state's agriculture community can be recognized.
The process to name pears the state fruit began with fundraising among industry members during the summer of 2004. HJR 8 passed the House Agriculture Committee with a unanimous vote as it did on the House floor on March 17. It also passed Senate committee unanimously and the vote passed 25 to 3 on April 18. Rep. Patti Smith and Sen. Rick Metsger co-sponsored the resolution.
Oregon ranks second in fresh pear production in the country after Washington state. Its 370 pear growers annually produce an average of 140 million pounds of Bartlett pears, of which two-thirds are used in processing and one-third marketed fresh. In addition, Oregon growers annually produce another 264 million pounds of non-Bartlett or winter pears such as Anjou, Bosc and Comice.
Pears are Oregon's top fruit crop and its 10th agricultural commodity overall with a value of $72 million in 2004. Using a multiplier of 1.5 supplied by Oregon State University, this $72 million in farm gate value generates an additional $108 million in income throughout the state. Hood River, Jackson, Wasco, Josephine and Marion are the top-five pear-producing counties in Oregon.
"Pears have been part of Oregon's agriculture since pioneers settled in the state's fertile river valleys. Our growers have a rich tradition here. Many of them are third- and even fourth-generation farmers, and they should be proud of the impact their hard work makes on the state's economy, said Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of the Pear Bureau Northwest. "Having Oregon school children learn about pears as the state fruit, or having our boxes, which are shipped all over the world, labeled with "Oregon's State Fruit" are ways the pear industry and our state's agriculture community can be recognized.
The process to name pears the state fruit began with fundraising among industry members during the summer of 2004. HJR 8 passed the House Agriculture Committee with a unanimous vote as it did on the House floor on March 17. It also passed Senate committee unanimously and the vote passed 25 to 3 on April 18. Rep. Patti Smith and Sen. Rick Metsger co-sponsored the resolution.
Oregon ranks second in fresh pear production in the country after Washington state. Its 370 pear growers annually produce an average of 140 million pounds of Bartlett pears, of which two-thirds are used in processing and one-third marketed fresh. In addition, Oregon growers annually produce another 264 million pounds of non-Bartlett or winter pears such as Anjou, Bosc and Comice.
