Elections for a Wenatchee District handler member and two alternates to the Fresh Pear Committee (FPC) of Marketing Order #927 are scheduled to be held at noon on Dec. 9, 2025. The election will be an in-person event and will be hosted and moderated by Brian Focht and held at the Washington Apple Commission Building, WPGMA Meeting, located at 2900 Euclid Ave., Wenatchee, Washington.

Only fresh pear handlers from the Wenatchee District (includes King, Chelan, Okanogan, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln and Spokane counties in Washington and all other counties in Washington lying north thereof) are eligible to nominate and vote in this election. The positions to be filled include: Member position held by Andrew Peterson, the First Alternate position held by Craig Christensen and the Second Alternate position held by Sarah Barkley.

These positions have served three out of three possible terms expiring June 30, 2026. As three consecutive terms is the limit, the members are not eligible for another term in the same position. They are eligible to serve in different 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, 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 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.