Oregon State Fruit: Pear

The legislature designated the the pear, (Pyrus communis,) as the official Oregon state 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.

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.

Oregon State Fruit: Pear

At the request of the Pear Bureau Northwest, the 2005 Oregon legislature named the pear the state fruit. Teenage girls from Hood River, representing that city's "Blossom Court,"testified before lawmakers in favor of the measure. In their resolution, legislators noted that pears were Oregon's "top-selling tree fruit crop and its 10th largest agricultural commodity." Historically, Oregon's pear industry has been centered in the Hood River and Rogue River valleys.

Characteristics of the Pear

The pear is any of several tree and shrub species of genus Pyrus, in the family Rosaceae. It is also the name of the pomaceous fruit of these trees. Several species of pear are valued for their edible fruit, while others are cultivated as ornamental trees. The genus Pyrus is classified in subtribe Pyrinae within tribe Pyreae.

The pear is native to coastal and mildly temperate regions of the Old World, from western Europe and north Africa east right across Asia. It is a medium-sized tree, reaching 10-17 m tall, often with a tall, narrow crown; a few species are shrubby.

Etymology

The English word "pear"is probably from Common West Germanic pera, probably a loanword of Vulgar Latin pira, the plural of pirum, akin to Greek apios (from Mycenaean ?isos), which is of Semitic origin (Aramaic/Syriac "pir?quot;, meaning "fruit", from the verb "pra", meaning "to beget, multiply, bear fruit"). The place name Perry can indicate the historical presence of pear trees. The term "pyriform" is sometimes used to describe something which is pear-shaped.

73rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY- 2005 Regular Session

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.

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.

Oregon Law

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.

Kingdom: Plantae - Plants
    Subkingdom: Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta - Seed plants
    Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
    Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae - Rose family
Genus: Pyrus L. - pear
Species: Pyrus communis L. - common pear

Oregon State

State Fruits

Oregon Symbols

Oregon State Fruit

Pear

(Pyrus communis)

Adopted on April 18, 2005.