HONG KONG – With the pear being the State of Oregon’s prized, official state fruit, and the related industry accounting for US$129 million in added value to the economy, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber shared his excitement in kicking off the delicious USA Pear season at a local supermarket in Hong Kong today.
“Northwest Pear volumes to the Hong Kong market have doubled in the past 5 years, making Hong Kong our pear industry’s largest export market in Asia, and 8th in size in the world. Currently, over 4,000 members of Oregon’s rural communities contribute to the multitudinous pear harvest that brings the stable quality and ample supply of fresh pears to the territory,” said Gov. John Kitzhaber.
Jeff Correa, Director of International Marketing for Pear Bureau Northwest noted that Hong Kong is one of the Northwest pear industry's top 10 export markets, citing it as a very good export market for Green Anjous, Red Anjous and Bosc pears. “USA Pears have a 7 month window of availability in the Hong Kong market which makes it a key market during the second half of the USA Pear season,” said Correa. “So far this season we are off to a very strong start in Hong Kong, with confirmed orders to date reaching 22,000 boxes; an 87 percent increase of the 2011-12 season total through the same time period.”
About Pear Bureau Northwest
Pear Bureau Northwest is a non-profit marketing organization established in 1931 to promote the fresh USA Pears grown in Washington and Oregon, home to 84% of the US fresh pear crop. The Bureau represents 1,600 growers and develops national and international markets for Northwest pear distribution. For more information, visit www.usapears.org.
Source: Pear Bureau Northwest