This is the time of year southern Oregon folks celebrate the blossoming of the magnificent Pear tree. The citizens of Medford just marked the importance of the pear with the city's annual Pear Blossom Run and its celebration of local food and drink called Pear-a-Fare.
A little history on the southern Oregon pear: The first arrival of pear trees to Oregon and Washington came with the pioneers. These trees found their way to the region by way of the Lewis and Clark Trail in the early 1800s.
Pioneers that settled along the Columbia River in Oregon's Hood River Valley, found ideal growing conditions for their pear trees. Vast orchards grow there today, in the shadow of majestic Mt. Hood. Volcanic soil, abundant water, warm days and cool nights combine to create the perfect conditions for growing the varieties found in Oregon.
The other principal growing area in Oregon is the Rogue River valley, around Medford in the Southeastern part of the state. Medford, near the end of the Cascade Mountain Range, also enjoys the rich volcanic soil and European-like weather that nurture the world's most beautiful, sweet, and juicy pears.
In fact, a very large southern Oregon mail-order company known today as Harry & David-Bear Creek Orchards, began by mailing out its world-renown Royal Riviera pears to folks all over the world. Even today, this is one of the company's best selling items!
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