Northwest Cherries and USA Pears Showcase Washington Agriculture Through WSU Homegrown Tour
July 30, 2026 | 3 min to read
Yakima, WA. — As the 2026 Washington State University Athletics Homegrown Tour heads toward its final stops, Northwest Cherries and USA Pears are celebrating a successful partnership that has connected Cougar fans with two of the Pacific Northwest’s signature crops while highlighting the strong relationship between Washington agriculture and Washington State University.
The 2026 Homegrown Tour features WSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Jon Haarlow, the WSU Alumni Association, and Cougar supporters at events across the Pacific Northwest. Since the tour began on July 15th, attendees have enjoyed fresh Northwest Cherries, delicious USA Pears, educational information and opportunities to learn more about the family farms behind these two important crops.
“It has been especially rewarding to showcase some of Washington’s finest fruit while partnering with Washington State Athletics on this year’s Homegrown Tour,” said Eric Patrick, President of Northwest Cherries. “After three events, it has been exciting to see the enthusiasm for fresh Northwest Cherries and USA Pears. People have loved tasting the fruit, learning about our growers, and discovering innovative new products. Guests attending the Yakima stop on July 24th experienced a first taste of Cougar Crisp Hard Cider, a brand-new officially licensed Washington State University collaboration with Tieton Cider Works, further showcasing meaningful partnerships that highlight the support of Washington agriculture and local businesses.
Northwest Cherries and USA Pears have worked alongside Washington State University for decades through research, Extension programs, and countless projects that help our growers remain innovative and competitive. Northwest Cherries represents more than 2,200 cherry growers across the Pacific Northwest, while USA Pears represents over 700 grower families and partners throughout Washington and Oregon.
“The Homegrown Tour is a timely opportunity for us to build excitement for the next harvest season which has just started for USA Pears. With the fibermaxxing trend gaining traction, pears are finally getting the attention they deserve as a nutrition powerhouse – one medium fruit provides 6g fiber or more than 20% of the Daily Recommended Value. Partnering with WSU is especially meaningful as we kick-off USA Pears nutrition & health research platform and a 2-year study with The Nutrition and Gut Microbiome Lab in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology this fall,” said Barbara Ruhs, Director of Communications & Nutrition Affairs for Pear Bureau Northwest.
The Homegrown Tour continues into early August with two additional stops in Tacoma, WA on August 1st at the Tacoma Rainiers baseball game and in Beaverton, OR on August 4th, at the Nike World Headquarters where the public is welcome to hear updates from Cougar Athletics, participate in question-and-answer sessions, and enjoy fresh Northwest Cherries and USA Pears while learning more about the growers who produce them.
The partnership between Northwest Cherries, USA Pears, and WSU Athletics will continue beyond the Homegrown Tour this October. Both organizations are participating in Cougar Sports’ Friday Night Harvest Fest, October 2nd and Ag Day on Saturday, October 3rd, where football fans can enjoy freshly harvested pears, cherry-inspired offerings, and meet local growers, many with ties to WSU.
“Washington agriculture and Washington State University have a long and proud history together,” Patrick added. “From the orchard to the classroom and research lab, WSU has played a vital role in advancing our industry. We are proud to support Cougar Athletics and look forward to continuing to share the story of our growers while celebrating the university that has done so much for agriculture throughout the Pacific Northwest.”
For details on the tour and to register visit here.
About Northwest Cherries
Northwest Cherries represents more than 2,200 cherry growers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Montana. The organization promotes fresh Northwest Cherries throughout North America and international markets.
About Pear Bureau Northwest
Pear Bureau Northwest is the nonprofit marketing organization representing over 700 grower families in Washington and Oregon. Through domestic and international promotion, research, nutrition education, and consumer outreach, Pear Bureau Northwest works to increase awareness and demand for USA Pears.