Oregon State Fruit
| Pear |
Pyrus communis |
Adopted:2005 |
 |
| Pears in a Pear Tree (Pyrus communis) |
Adoption of the Oregon State Fruit
House Joint Resolution No. 8 was sponsored by Representative Patti Smith and Senator Rick Metsger and
others at the request of the Pear Bureau Northwest.
The resolution was first read in the House of Representatives on February 28, 2005 and specified that
the European Pear be adopted as the state fruit. An amendment by the House Committee on Agricultural and Natural
Resources changed the designation from "European Pear" to "Pear". The amendment also added wording that specified
the pear varieties Comice, Anjou, Bosc and Bartlett as well as the wording that
"Oregon is world famous for its beautiful and delicious pear and fruit gift baskets produced in Medford and
Hood River;"
As amended, House Joint Resolution No. 8 was approved by the Oregon House of Representatives on March 17,
2005 and delivered to the Senate for their consideration. By a vote of 25 to 2, the Pear was approved by the Oregon
Senate on April 18. 2005.
The text of House Joint Resolution No. 8 follows:
73rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2005 Regular Session EnrolledHouse Joint Resolution 8Sponsored by Representative P SMITH, Senator METSGER; Representatives BUCKLEY, ESQUIVEL, GILMAN, RICHARDSON,
Senators ATKINSON, BATES (at the request of Pear Bureau Northwest)Whereas Oregon is internationally renowned for producing a variety of delicious, sweet and juicy pears,
including Comice, Anjou, Bosc and Bartlett; andWhereas the Northwest is the only geographic region in the United States that has the ideal combination of
climatic and geographic settings needed to produce high-quality, delicious summer and winter pear varieties; andWhereas Oregon's rich pear-growing region stretches along the banks of the Columbia River, and thousands of
acres of pears flourish in the valleys beneath the snowcapped peak of Mt. Hood; andWhereas the Rogue River Valley in southern Oregon has long been home to high-yield pear orchards in view of
Mt. McLoughlin, and is the southernmost growing region of the Northwest pear industry; andWhereas organic, commercial and multigeneration family orchards all contribute high-quality fruit to
Oregon's fresh pear industry, making the pear Oregon's top-selling tree fruit crop and its 10th largest agricultural
commodity; andWhereas Oregon is world famous for its beautiful and delicious pear and fruit gift baskets produced in
Medford and Hood River; andWhereas Oregon's total pear production consistently ranks third overall in the United States and Oregon's
fresh pear production ranks second; andWhereas pears are a good source of vitamin C, potassium and dietary fiber, have no cholesterol, are low in
calories, with only 100 calories per serving, and complement the active Oregon lifestyle; andWhereas the State of Oregon does not have an official state fruit; now, therefore,Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:That the pear (Pyrus communis) is the official fruit of the State of Oregon.
With the signatures of the Chief Clerk of the House and the Speaker of the House on March 17, 2005 and
the signature of the President of the Senate on April 18, 2005, House Joint Resolution No. 8 designated the Pear the
official state fruit of the State of Oregon.
The Oregon Statutes
Like other Oregon state symbols, Oregon's state fruit was adopted by House Joint Resolution, rather
than an act of the legislature, and is therefore not a part of the Oregon Statutes.
Additional Information
State Fruit List:
List of all of the state fruits.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetables:
from Harry and David, in Medford, Oregon.
General Pear History:
from the Pear Bureau Northwest.
Source: Oregon Legislature, (http://www.leg.state.or.us/), April 21, 2005 |
