Elections for the Yakima District handler member and two alternates to the Fresh Pear Committee (FPC) of Marketing Order #927 are scheduled to be held at 11:15 a.m. on May 14, 2025. This is an in-person election to be held at the Yakima Convention Center, 10 N 8th St., Yakima, Washington. This election will be hosted and moderated by Jordan Matson.

Only fresh pear handlers from the Yakima District (includes all of the state of Washington not included in the Wenatchee District or in the Mid-Columbia District) are eligible to nominate and vote in this election. The positions to be filled include: Member position held by Jeff Baldwin, the first alternate position currently vacant and the second alternate position held by Willie Sosa.

At a December 25, 2024, nomination meeting, Yakima District handlers nominated Cindy Alarcon as member, Jeff Baldwin as first alternate and Sean Gilbert as second alternate. Since receiving their nominations, Cindy Alarcon and Sean Gilbert have been determined to be ineligible as they no longer meet the definition of fresh pear handlers under the federal marketing order. To ensure a full slate of eligible nominees, new nominations are required for the Yakima District handler member and second alternate positions.

Names of those elected will be submitted to the United States Secretary of Agriculture for official appointment to the committee and will serve for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2025.

Among other duties, The Fresh Pear Committee is responsible for setting the assessment rates for research and promotion and advertising of all pears grown in Washington and Oregon marketed in the domestic and export markets. The committee encourages women, minorities, and the physically challenged, who qualify as pear growers/handlers, to attend and participate in the nomination proceedings.