Pear Bureau Northwest has issued the following announcement: Pear growers will elect nominees for positions on the Fresh Pear Committee (FPC) of Marketing Order #927. The committee is responsible for the collection of assessments for research, and the promotion and advertising of all pears marketed in the domestic and export markets.

There is one Handler FPC position for the Mid Columbia district to be filled at the Shipper’s meeting at 12:00PM on March 13, 2018 at Grace Su’s China Gorge located at 2680 Old Columbia River Dr, Hood River, OR 97031.

The Handler Member position is currently held by Don Gibson, 1^st Alternate is Fred Duckwall, and 2^nd Alternate is Bob Wymore. The member and alternates can’t be re-elected because they have served all three of a possible 3 consecutive terms. A new member will need to be nominated.

All pear handlers are eligible to attend and participate in the respective nominations. The committee encourages women, minorities, and the physically challenged, who qualify as pear growers/handlers, to attend and participate in the nomination proceedings. Names of those elected will be submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture for official appointment to the committee, and will serve for a two-year period.

Here’s a link to the bureau’s website.