Pear Lovers Across the Globe Celebrate the Pears Grown in the United States
Fresh from the Pacific Northwest, America’s pears are prized around the world.
Portland, Ore. – November 18, 2008 – Hailed as a “gift of the gods” by the Greek poet Homer in “The Odyssey,” the venerable pear has graced diverse civilizations for more than four thousand years. Today, the U.S. is the third largest pear producing country in the world, and many Americans are not aware that more than 55 countries look to our nation for sweet and juicy fresh pears. The orchards of Oregon and Washington in particular allow heirloom varieties of pears to flourish to perfection in their pastoral terrain.
Pacific Northwest pears are each picked by hand, and are renowned as being some of the world’s finest. In the global marketplace, these delectable pears are sold under the USA Pears label and are highly regarded as a premium quality fruit.
A variety of pear to suit every nation
Ten principal varieties of pears are grown in Oregon and Washington, each with its own color, flavor and texture. With such diversity, there is a pear to suit any nation’s individual preference.
- In Asia, red pears in particular are prized for their beautiful crimson color, which symbolizes good luck and prosperity. Red pears are often used for celebratory offerings and gift-giving in countries like Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
- Brazilians have a taste for sweet and juicy fruit and prefer the Bartlett pear, which tantalizes taste buds with its naturally sweet flavor, aroma, and abundant juice.
- Russia is one of the top export markets for USA Pears, and demand for healthy pears continues to grow as Russian consumers increasingly focus on a more health-conscious lifestyle. They favor a colorful range of varieties, including Bosc pears, red pears, and Bartletts.
- Latin cultures import a wide variety of USA Pears, but the Anjou pear is exceptionally popular in Mexico and Central America as an all-purpose variety that is delicious both when slightly under ripe, sweet-tart, and crisp, and also when fully ripe, sweet and succulent.
A tale of two chefs – pears in authentic Indian cuisine
Chefs across the globe present USA Pears in both traditional and creative culinary applications. Complex and distinct in flavor, pears fit restaurant menus for every type of ethnic cuisine and in every course from drinks to desserts. Their harmony with contemporary Indian cuisine provides a perfect example of the pear’s culinary versatility.
India’s Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, restaurateur, cookbook author, and host of the award-winning Indian television cooking show Khana Khazana, incorporates pears into his expansive repertoire of recipes. He says there’s a reason that USA Pears are found in such great quantity in India. He enthuses, “when I eat them, I feel a relishing and sweet experience that’s out of this world!” Chef Kapoor has spotlighted several recipes with USA Pears on his television program, including a Pear Lassi, Salmon with Pear Sauce, and Balti Pear Chicken.
Almost literally on the other side of the world, Chef David Anderson incorporates fresh USA Pears into his Indian menu. As chef de cuisine at Portland, Oregon’s premier Indian restaurant, Vindalho, Chef Anderson lives in the heart of pear country and enjoys integrating fresh pears into his recipes. “Pears may not be a traditional Indian ingredient, but they are a perfect fit for the authentic flavors and spices of Indian cuisine,” he says. “They can be infused with a multitude of vibrant spices, like cardamom, turmeric and cayenne, yet they retain their own distinct flavor.” Chef Anderson uses Bartlett or Comice pears in his signature Pear Ginger Chutney, which he serves with lamb kababs or Indian flatbreads.
Pears hold a place of honor
In Mexico, pears are used not only as palate pleasers, but also hold a place of distinction in home decorating. Pear floral arrangements, mantelpiece displays, and gold leaf gilded pears are among the many creations that adorn Mexican homes during the winter holiday season. Super stores like Wal-Mart and Soriana in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey even play host to seminars that teach guests how to create their own festive décor with beautiful USA Pears.
In the United States, the modest pear has earned its place in the national spotlight during the month of December, which the USDA has declared National Pear Month. Recognized for their positive impact on the U.S. economy, their nutritional importance to families, and their array of global culinary uses, USA Pears and the farmers who grow them are deserving of such an honor.
Oregon and Washington’s 1,600 pear growers carefully harvest each delicate pear by hand, and are clearly committed to providing the world with their premium quality pears. As stewards of the land, they tend their naturally prime landscape, where moisture from meandering rivers and glacial snowmelt feeds the region’s nutrient-rich volcanic soil to make the perfect foundation for pear tree nourishment. With this ideal growing environment, it’s no wonder their sublime pears are prized across the U.S. and around the world.
For more information visit www.usapears.org. For recipes from top chefs, visit www.PearPanache.com.
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About Pear Bureau Northwest
The Pear Bureau Northwest is a nonprofit marketing organization established in 1931 to promote the fresh USA Pears grown in Washington and Oregon. The Bureau represents more than 1,600 growers who grow 84 percent of the nation’s fresh pear crop, and develops national and international markets for Northwest pear distribution. For more information, visit www.usapears.org.
Contact:
Cristie Mather
Communications Manager
Pear Bureau Northwest
cmather@usapears.com
(503) 652-9720