The Work Week: Make Aheads and On-The-Gos

Monday

Make ahead fresh pear and quinoa breakfast custard

Creamy pear and parsnip soup with pecan blue cheese crackers

Korean bbq beef

Tuesday

Pear, leek and cheese quiche

Shaved ham, pear and brie sandwich

Pear and pecorino ravioli

Wednesday

Pear, oatmeal and blueberry breakfast smoothie

Vegetarian taco bowls with pear salsa and avocado creme

Savory pear and prosciutto pizza

Thursday

Star anise and coconut poached pear with yogurt and granola

Grilled chicken, avocado and fresh pear toast

Spice and pear roasted chicken

Friday

Carrot, pear and coconut muffins

Thai-inspired chicken salad with pear “noodles”

Turkey sliders with grilled pears

Snacks

Sweet Treats, Desserts and Cheats

The Freakin’ Weekend

Saturday

Pear, almond cardamom pancakes

Sauteed shrimp and pickled pear sandwich

Grilled pork chop with pears and rosemary butter

Sunday

Creamy hazelnut and pear smoothie

Black rice, cherry and pear salad

Chicken sausage and pear pasta

The post Weekly Meal Planning appeared first on USA Pears.

Portland, Oregon– October 5, 2016 – After a successful introduction of the Heart-Check certification for Green and Red Anjou pears last season, USA Pears expands American Heart Association’s heart-healthy branding to Bartlett and Bosc pears from the Northwest.

The top three pear varieties produced by Northwest growers remain the same as in previous years: Green Anjou pears are anticipated to make up 50% of the total 2016 crop, and Bartlett and Bosc pears are expected to yield 23% and 17%, respectively.

“We received positive feedback from retailers and nutritionists throughout the industry when we launched the Heart-Check certification of Anjou pears in the spring and are pleased to expand the program to new varieties.” said Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest.

USA Pears’ outreach to practicing nutritionists in communities, supermarkets, schools and more, focuses on the benefits of eating whole foods and increasing fruit consumption to decrease risks of heart disease, diabetes, and other serious illness. Moffitt added, “Our involvement in the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check Certification program reinforces the nutritional benefits of pears, providing incentive to consumers to add pears into their shopping cart.”

The American Heart Association Heart-Check mark is found on all Anjou, Bartlett and Bosc POS, social media and web content and will be a feature in February’s American Heart Month and National Nutrition Month in March promotions.

About Pear Bureau Northwest

The Pear Bureau Northwest is an 85-year-old nonprofit marketing organization established to promote the fresh USA Pears grown in Washington and Oregon. The Bureau represents nearly 1,600 growers that produce 84 percent of the nation’s heirloom, fresh pear crop and develops national and international markets for Northwest pear distribution. For more information, visit www.usapears.org, www.facebook.com/USApears, and follow @USApears on Twitter.

About the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association

The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. The American Stroke Association is a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

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PORTLAND, Ore. – October 6, 2015 – Harvest is nearing completion for the Northwest pear growers of Washington and Oregon. Over the next months, ten pear varieties will be at their peak, putting a fresh crop of Northwest-grown pears within easy reach now through next spring.

As part of a multi-year campaign, Pear Bureau Northwest will position pears as a perfect choice for wholesome, simple snacking with consumer programs including sampling demos and events featuring fresh pairings with other real-food ingredients, new website content, social media campaigns, and media and blogger outreach.

Half of all eating occasions are now snack driven. According to a recent Mintel report on snacking, 94 percent of Americans snack at least once a day, compared to just 64 percent last year. Thirty-three percent say they are choosing healthier foods this year compared to last year, with an emphasis on simple ingredients. Millennials are leading the way, and are more likely than any other demographic to snack multiple times throughout the day.

“Busy lifestyles are here to stay, and adults are reaching for healthy snacks to fuel themselves and their families or even replace meals,” said Kathy Stephenson, marketing communications director for Pear Bureau Northwest. “We want to tell time-starved consumers that pears are portable, packable, and pair-able. A pear’s juicy, subtle flavor pairs well with protein-filled nut butters, almonds, and walnuts. And a pear’s gentle acidity is a brilliant match for richer pairings, like cheese and cured meats.”

A recent usage study commissioned by USA Pears showed that on average, pear consumers purchase six or more pears in bulk when shopping, with 46 percent eating them as mid-morning and afternoon snacks.

“The quality of USA Pears for the new season is excellent, and we anticipate an abundance of “snackable” size fruit resulting from high summer temperatures in the Northwest growing regions. Our snacking initiative is perfectly timed to help our growers and shippers sell their plentiful, high-quality, small-sized fruit,” said Stephenson. “Smaller fruit is perfect for the lunchbox, or to toss into a purse or string bag on the way out the door.”

“Pears are a nutrient-dense, fat free food, an excellent source of fiber, and a good source of vitamin C for only 100 calories per serving,” reminded Stephenson. “They’re a healthy snack that can help fill you up and keep you satisfied.”

About Pear Bureau Northwest/USA Pears

The Pear Bureau Northwest was established in 1931 as a nonprofit marketing organization to promote the fresh pears grown in Oregon and Washington. Today, the United States is the third largest pear-producing country in the world, and Oregon and Washington comprise the nation’s largest pear growing region with 1,600 growers producing 84 percent of all fresh pears grown in the United States. Pears grown in these two Pacific Northwest states are distributed under the “USA Pears” brand. Pears are an excellent source of fiber (24% DV) and a good source of vitamin C (10% DV) for only 100 calories per medium sized pear. Sweet and juicy with no fat, no sodium, and no cholesterol, pears are a perfect choice for a snack as well as for any course of any meal of the day. Visit www.usapears.org for more pear facts and recipes.

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Sources:

Fresh Pear Usage and Attitude, Pear Bureau Northwest 2014

Mintel study, “Snacking Motivations & Attitudes: US 2015”

The Food Institute Report, June 2015

Hartbeat newsletter, April 2015, published by The Hartman Group

The post USA Pears Positioned Perfectly for Wholesome Snacking appeared first on USA Pears.

In vitro, animal, clinical and epidemiologic studies indicate pear consumption potentially improves gut health and set the stage for further evidence of associated health benefits

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oct. 19, 2015 – To explore the potential health benefits associated with pear consumption and related health outcomes, Joanne Slavin, Ph.D., R.D., professor of food science and nutrition at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, assisted by food science graduate Holly Reiland, conducted a systematic review of studies from PubMed (database of the National Library of Medicine with citations and abstracts of biomedical literature) and Agricola (database of the National Agricultural Library with citations of agricultural literature) from 1970 to present.

Pears are an excellent source of fiber and a good source of vitamin C for only 100 calories per serving. One medium pear provides about 24 percent of daily fiber needs. They are sodium-free, cholesterol-free, fat-free and contain 190 mg of potassium. The USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and CNPP MyPlate advise people who eat more fruits as part of an overall healthy diet are likely to reduce their risk of some chronic diseases, although little is published on the health outcomes associated with individual fruits, including pears.

In the review conducted by Dr. Slavin and Reiland, pears were found to be a source of fructose, sorbitol and dietary fiber. “Americans fall short on dietary fiber,” said Dr. Slavin. “The high content of dietary fiber in pears and their effects on gut health set pears apart from other fruit and deserves further study.” Slavin found the body of evidence for a relationship between pear intake and health outcomes to be sparse and diverse and believes intervention studies with pears that show positive health outcomes, most likely improvements in gut health, are needed.

According to Slavin, an epidemiologic cohort study conducted by Larsson et al.² found, among individual fruit and vegetable subgroups, inverse associations with total stroke and the consumption of pears, along with apples and leafy green vegetables. In a meta-analysis of twenty prospective cohort studies Hu et al.³ found apples/pears, citrus fruits and leafy vegetables might contribute to stroke protection.

An epidemiologic study conducted by Wedick et al.⁴ linked the consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods, particularly pears, apples and blueberries, with lower risk of Type 2 diabetes. An additional epidemiologic study via Mink et al.⁵ indicated flavonoid-rich foods including pears were associated with a significant reduction in mortality from coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women.

While the body of evidence connecting pear intake and health outcomes is still limited, USA Pears has been contributing to research efforts by commissioning independent studies to learn and affirm the heath attributes of pears. Visit www.usapears.org for additional pear research, nutrition resources and recipes.

About Pear Bureau Northwest
The Pear Bureau Northwest was established in 1931 as a nonprofit marketing organization to promote the fresh pears grown in Oregon and Washington. Today, the United States is the third largest pear-producing country in the world, and Oregon and Washington comprise the nation’s largest pear growing region with 1,600 growers producing 84% of all fresh pears grown in the United States. Pears grown in these two Pacific Northwest states are distributed under the “USA Pears” brand. Pears are an excellent source of fiber (24% DV) and a good source of vitamin C (10% DV) for only 100 calories per medium sized pear. Sweet and juicy with no fat, no sodium, and no cholesterol, pears are a perfect choice for a snack as well as for any course of any meal of the day. For more information, visit www.usapears.org, www.facebook.com/USApears and follow @USApears on Twitter.

Resources:

1. Reiland H, Slavin, J. (2015). Systematic Review of Pears and Health. Nutrition Today, 1-2, 4.
2. Larsson SC, Virtamo J, Wolk A. (2013). Total and specific fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of stroke: a prospective study. Atherosclerosis, 227: 147, 152.
3. Hu D, Huang J, Wang Y, Zhang D, Qu Y. (2014). Fruits and vegetables consumption and risk of stroke: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Stroke, 45: 1613-1619.
4. Wedick NM, Pan A, Cassidy A, et al. (2012). flavonoid intakes and risk of type 2 diabetes in US men and women. Am J Clin Nutr, 95: 925-933.
5. Mink PJ, Scrafford CG, Barraj L, et al. (2007). Flavonoid intake and cardiovascular disease mortality: a prospective study in postmenopausal women. Am J Clin Nutr. 85: 895-909.

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The post Potential Health Benefits of Pear Consumption appeared first on USA Pears.

Fresh Pear Consumption Associated with a Better Nutrient Profile, Better Diet Quality, and Lower Risk of Obesity in Adults

PORTLAND, Ore. – May 6, 2014 – Pear Bureau Northwest, the nonprofit marketing association that promotes fresh pears grown in Oregon and Washington, recently commissioned nutrition research examining fresh pear consumption and the associated nutrition and health benefits.

The research, which was led by Dr. Victor Fulgoni III, Ph.D, was presented at Experimental Biology in San Diego last week and revealed that when compared with non-consumers, fresh pear consumers had a better nutrition profile and overall better quality of diet, for example, more dietary fiber, vitamin C, copper, magnesium, and potassium. Fresh pear consumers also had lower added sugar intake, as well as lower intake of total fat, monounsaturated fat, and saturated fat. Furthermore, the likelihood of being obese was 35 percent lower among fresh pear consumers than among their non-consumer counterparts.

The association between fresh pear consumption with nutrient intake, dietary quality, and risk of obesity was examined in adults 19+ years participating in the 2001-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Energy and nutrient intakes were calculated using the USDA’s Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies.

“We are pleased to see healthy pears as part of the greater scientific conversation and look forward to growing our nutrition research and communications program,” said Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest.

About Pear Bureau Northwest
Pear Bureau Northwest was established in 1931 as a nonprofit marketing organization to promote the fresh pears grown in Oregon and Washington. Today, the United States is the third largest pear-producing country in the world, and Oregon and Washington comprise the nation’s largest pear growing region with 1,600 growers producing 84% of all fresh pears grown in the United States. Pears grown in these two Pacific Northwest states are distributed under the “USA Pears” brand. Pears are an excellent source of fiber (24% DV) and a good source of vitamin C (10% DV) for only 100 calories per medium sized pear. Sweet and juicy with no fat, no sodium, and no cholesterol, pears are a perfect choice for a snack as well as for any course of any meal of the day. For more information, visit www.usapears.org, www.facebook.com/USApears, and follow @USApears on Twitter.

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Contact:

Cristie Mather, Director of Communications, Pear Bureau Northwest

cmather@usapears.com

(503) 651-9720

The post Fresh Pear Consumption Associated with Better Diet Quality and Lower Risk of Obesity appeared first on USA Pears.

WHITE FRUITS AND VEGGIES BITE BACK AGAINST STROKES

White Flesh Fruits and Vegetables Associated with Low Risk for Stroke

Hockessin, Del. – A new study has found that eating fruits and vegetables whose edible section, or flesh, is white may protect against stroke. Fruits and vegetables were divided into four color groups, each based on the color of the flesh portion: Green, orange/yellow, red/purple and white. Fruits and vegetables included in the white category were apples, pears, apple juice, apple sauce, bananas, cauliflower, chicory, cucumber and mushrooms. White fruits and vegetables were the most commonly consumed produce at 36 percent, and within this group, apples and pears accounted for the highest consumption at 55 percent. The findings were published online in the September 15, 2011 edition of Stroke and will be printed in the November 2011 edition.

Researchers from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, led by Linda Oude Griep, used data collected by the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment of the Netherlands that included more than 20,000 people. Study participants were between the ages of 20 and 65 at the start of the study, and none showed any signs of cardiovascular disease. The food-intake, frequency and overall health of the participants were followed for 10 years. During the follow-up period, 233 participants had a stroke. Researchers found for every 25-gram increase in the amount of white fruits and vegetables consumed each day, the risk of stroke decreased by 9 percent. For comparison purposes, a medium-size apple is 120 grams. Oude Greip said it is not completely clear what components in white fruit and vegetables might be protective for stroke, but she suspects that the dietary fiber and flavonoids play a role.

“The findings in this recent study serve to strengthen what is quickly becoming common knowledge to consumers – eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is good for overall health and reducing the risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, some cancers and other chronic conditions,” says Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., president and CEO of Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) the nonprofit entity in partnership with CDC behind the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters national public health initiative. “While this particular study focused on white fruits and vegetables, eating a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables provides a natural variety of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and fiber that allow you to be your best everyday. Consumers are recognizing that making half their plate fruits and vegetables is easy when they include 100 percent juice, fresh, frozen, canned, and dried fruits and vegetables.” The Fruits & Veggies—More Matters national public health initiative is a helpful and easy reminder for consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables and strongly supports not only the findings of the Danish study, but all studies with findings showing a link between eating a variety of fruits and vegetables each day and better health, adds Pivonka. A wide variety of information, tools, and resources on fruits and vegetables, including a nutrition database, recipes, and videos can be found on the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters consumer-friendly website.

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About Produce for Better Health Foundation

Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) fruit and vegetable education foundation. Since 1991, PBH has worked to motivate people to eat more fruits and vegetables to improve public health. PBH achieves success through industry and government collaboration, first with the 5 A Day program and now with the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters public health initiative. Fruits & Veggies-More Matters is the nation’s largest public-private, fruit and vegetable nutrition education initiative with Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Coordinators in each state, territory and the military. To learn more, visit www.PBHFoundation.org and www.FruitsandVeggiesMoreMatters.org. Follow Fruits & Veggies-More Matters on Facebook or Twitter.

PBH is also a member and co-chair with Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) of the National Fruit & Vegetable Alliance (NFVA), consisting of government agencies, non-profit organizations, and industry working to collaboratively and synergistically achieve increased nationwide access and demand for all forms of fruits and vegetables for improved public health. To learn more, visit www.NFVA.org.

Media Contact:

Kristen Stevens
Senior Vice President
Produce for Better Health Foundation
Tel: 302-235-2329
Email: kstevens@pbhfoundation.org

Pear Bureau Northwest prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, political beliefs, or disability. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the Pear Bureau at (503) 652-9720.

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