Oregon State Fruit

Pear

(Pyrus communis)

Adopted on April 18, 2005.

The legislature designated the the pear, Pyrus communis, as the official fruit by resolution on April 18, 2005. Oregon produces a variety of pears, including Comice, Anjou, Bosc, and Bartlett. The pear ranks as the top-selling tree fruit crop in the state and grows particularly well in the Rogue River Valley and along the Columbia River near Mt. Hood.

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.

Leaf: Alternate, simple, ovate with a finely serrated margin, 1 to 4 inches in length, shiny green above, paler and dull below.

Flower: Clusters of showy white flowers (each 1/2 to 3/4 inch across) appearing before or with the leaves.

Fruit: A large edible pome (3 to 4 inches), pear-shaped.

Twig: Glossy brown to reddish-brown, medium in texture, spur shoots present. Terminal buds are medium in size (less than 1/4 inch), conical to dome shaped, and may be lightly hairy.

Bark: Gray-brown to reddish-brown. Later turning grayish brown with shallow furrows and flat-topped scaly ridges.

Form: Typically quite upright and conical with very narrow branch angles.

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

Enrolled

House Joint Resolution 8

Sponsored 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; and

Whereas 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; and

Whereas 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; and

Whereas 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; and

Whereas 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; and

Whereas Oregon is world famous for its beautiful and delicious pear and fruit gift baskets produced in Medford and Hood River; and

Whereas Oregon's total pear production consistently ranks third overall in the United States and Oregon's fresh pear production ranks second; and

Whereas 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; and

Whereas 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.