US pear producers have voted overwhelmingly to continue with their current marketing order.
The US Department of Agriculture announced on Thursday the results of an Oregon and Washington pear producer referendum to continue Federal Marketing Order 927, showing that 97 per cent of fresh pear growers favoured a continuation of the marketing order.
Commenting on the results of the vote, Kevin Moffitt, manager of the Fresh Pear Committee of Marketing Order 927 and president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest said: “We are pleased to gain the continued support and confidence of our grower members.
“The industry has been working together for over 85 years to increase the consumption of fresh pears among consumers around the world while supporting the viability and sustainability of the fresh pear growers and orchards.”
The marketing order allows the industry to collect and distribute vital size, grade and availability information throughout the season as well as providing money for important pre and post-harvest research as well as funding in support of activities conducted by Pear Bureau Northwest to increase consumption of fresh pears worldwide.
“While consumer behaviours and preferences in produce continually change, we strive to keep pears relevant providing custom category analysis to retailers and capturing consumer attention with innovative and effective promotions and initiatives,” said Moffitt.
Established in 1939, Marketing Order 927 is the longest continuously running marketing order in the country. Pear growers have the opportunity to vote every six years on whether or not to continue with the order.
Marketing orders and agreements are industry-driven programmes that help fruit, vegetable, and specialty crop producers and handlers achieve marketing success. By working together, industry members leverage their own funds to design and execute programmes that they would not be able to do as individuals.”
Pear Bureau Northwest was established in 1931 to promote the fresh pears grown in Oregon and Washington.
Today, the US is the second largest pear-producing country in the world, and Washington and Oregon comprise the nation's largest pear growing region with nearly 1,000 growers producing 84 per cent of all commercially grown fresh pears in the US. Pears grown in these two Pacific Northwest states are distributed under the “USA Pears” brand.
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