Northwest pear growers overwhelmingly voted in favor of continuing participation in a federal marketing order to collectively promote their fruit.

Ninety-seven percent of fresh pear growers in Washington and Oregon favored continuing the marketing order. The total vote represent 90 percent of production volume.

Eighty-nine percent of Oregon processed pear growers voted in favor, while 97 percent of Washington processed pear growers approved the extension. The total vote accounts for 68 percent of production volume.

To be extended, the order must receive two-thirds approval from growers responsible for two-thirds of the pears produced during the production year.

The order, administered locally by the Fresh Pear and Processed Pear Committees, provides authority for grade, size and quality regulations, for inspection and for research projects to benefit pear growers in Washington and Oregon.