Mar 29, 2012

Pear growers vote to continue marketing order

California pear farmers voted in favor of continuing the state’s pear marketing order for another five years.
In a recent grower referendum conducted by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 95.24 percent of the voters representing 97.35 percent of the volume voted in favor of continuing the California Pear Advisory Board (CPAB).

“Last year, some drastic changes were made to the California Pear Advisory Board’s programs,” said Chris Zanobini, president of CPAB. “Clearly, the change was reflective of industry needs, and this recent referendum indicates the new direction of the board has widespread support throughout the industry.”

Under the new structure, the board discontinued its retail merchandising program and is now leaving promotions conducted directly with grocery stores up to individual grower-shippers. The board continues to fund production research and provides marketing and public relations support for the industry. Individual operations have the ability to access these tools for use in their own sales efforts, Zanobini said.

“The board is preparing for the coming pear season, and staff is working to develop new programs to support industry needs,” Zanobini said. “This vote of confidence among industry members is a great sign that the board is moving in the right direction and that we are still going strong.”

Zanobini said the board would continue to provide crop estimates and harvest timing information as the season approaches. For more information, click here.