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Fresh Pear Committee elections
Two separate elections for a Mid-Columbia District first position Handler member and two alternates and an election for a second position Second Alternate Handler member to the Fresh Pear Committee (FPC) of Marketing Order #927 are scheduled to be held March 16, 2026, at 10 a.m. The elections will be hosted and moderated by Lesley Tamura and held at the Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers Annual Shipper’s meeting via zoom:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 827 4405 3746
Passcode: 585445
Only Fresh Pear Handlers from the Mid-Columbia District (includes Hood River and Wasco counties in the state of Oregon, and the counties of Skamania and Klickitat in the state of Washington) are eligible to nominate and vote in these elections.
—In the first election, the positions to be filled include member position held by Chad Wimmers, the First Alternate position held by Shae Baker and the Second Alternate position held by Ed Weathers.
These three positions have served 2 out of 3 possible terms expiring on June 30, 2026. As three consecutive terms is the limit the members are eligible for another term in the same position. Other nominees are eligible as well. 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, 2026.
—In the second election, the position to be filled is the Second Alternate member position and is currently vacant.
This position expires June 30, 2027. 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, 2026.
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 WA and OR 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.