<p><strong>PORTLAND, OR</strong> - December, designated National Pear Month by the USDA, can now boast an educational tour to go along with its host of holiday traditions and pastimes. The Pear Bureau Northwest's “The Time is Ripe for Pears Tour” has kicked off and is in full effect, traversing the US this pear season from Boston to Seattle. The tour seeks to bring delicious ripe pears to consumers, media, and chefs in eight designated cities, as well as bringing simple tips for testing ripeness directly to consumer's fingertips... literally. "Check the Neck,” as the slogan goes, by applying gentle thumb pressure to the neck or stem of the pear. If the fruit yields under the pressure it is ripe and offers a sweet and juicy pear. “Pears can be enjoyed at all points along the ripeness spectrum,” Cristie Mather, communications director for Pear Bureau Northwest states. “Some love them firm, sweet-tart, and crisp, while others like them sweet and ultra juicy. Our goal simply is to help people enjoy fresh pears at their own perfect point of ripeness.” Each location will be guest to public pear tasting events, as well as special media luncheons with top chefs that have partnered with the tour.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Consumers and industry affiliates can stay updated with weekly reports on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, along with The Pear Bureau’s The Pear Dish blog. The PBNW is asking fans to contribute to the campaign by sharing what they find most interesting about pears when they enter the "The Time is Ripe for Pears Sweepstakes," via Facebook. The entry deadline is December 15th. The winner will receive an expense-paid trip for two to the tour location of their liking. Boston, New York City, Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia, Chicago, Portland and Seattle are on the menu. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>www.usapears.com</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
