General
Rich volcanic soil, abundant water, warm days and cool nights allow pear orchards to flourish dramatically in Oregon's river valley growing regions, centered in Hood River and Medford. Pears were named as Oregon's state fruit in 2005.

Production
Oregon has 370 pear growers, and produces about 800 million pears per year.

19,400 acres of Oregon land are in production for pears.

In 2004, the top five producing counties in Oregon (Hood River, Jackson, Wasco, Josephine, Marion) produced 265,801 tons of pears.

Pears are Oregon's #1 tree fruit crop.

Oregon's fresh pear production ranks second in the United States.

Oregon's ranks third in the United States for overall production (fresh and processed), second in terms of fresh pear production.

If compared to other (non-Asian variety) pear-producing countries, Oregon’s production alone would rank ninth worldwide.

Pear History
Early colonists raised pears in America's eastern settlements until crop blights proved too severe to sustain widespread cultivation.

Pear trees brought west to Oregon by pioneers in the 1800's thrived in the unique agricultural conditions found in the Pacific Northwest.

The Pear Bureau Northwest was established in 1931 as a non-profit marketing organization to promote, advertise and develop markets for fresh pears grown in Oregon and Washington. Pears from these two Northwest states distributed under the USA Pears logo.

Today, pear orchards in Oregon are as specialized as the regions that support them. Organic, commercial and multi-generation family orchards all contribute high-quality fruit to the Northwest's fresh pear industry.

Economics
Pears are Oregon's number one tree fruit crop, and the state's tenth largest agricultural commodity, with a crop value of $76,703,000 (2004).

35 percent of Oregon's pear crop is exported to over 40 countries worldwide.

Oregon Growing Regions
Mid-Columbia/Hood River
This rich pear-growing region stretches along both the Oregon and Washington banks of the Columbia River. Here, thousands of acres of USA Pears flourish under the snowcapped peaks of Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood, two volcanoes of the Cascade Volcano Range.

Medford District
The Rogue River valley, situated near Medford in southern Oregon, has long been home to high-yield pear orchards. In view of Mt. McLoughlin, the southern-most growing region of the Northwest nurtures pear trees that produce beautiful, sweet and juicy pears.

Fun Facts
Oregon produces enough pears to stretch back and forth from Portland to New York 16.5 times.

Oregon grows enough pears that, if laid end to end, would wrap around the world twice.

There are enough pears grown in Oregon to supply every person in the state with about 294 pears each year.

Hood River County grows more pears than any other county in the USA.

Medford is home to some of the oldest pear orchards in the USA.

Pears are Oregon's state fruit.