Act Fast To Show Your Flair With The Pear

Calling all professional chefs and mixologists: Are you one with the pear? Have you experimented with all the ways to peel, slice, poach, juice and pur�e a Bartlett, Red Anjou, or Bosc? Do you dream up delicious recipes that put the pear on the pedestal it belongs? If so, Pear Bureau Northwest, the non-profit marketing organization established to promote fresh USA Pears, wants to honor you in its Pear Panache program.

Pear Panache is an annual chef recognition campaign designed to recognize those culinary professionals who have demonstrated the most flair with the pear. Each year, Pear Bureau Northwest selects seven top chefs or mixologists to feature on www.PearPanache.com as inspiration for other pear connoisseurs. The website spotlights a different chef and his/her recipe each month from September 2008 - March 2009. Selected chefs will also be featured in national publicity and media opportunities and will take home $500. All professionals who enter will receive a pear prize package that includes a pear slicer, a collection of recipe cards, and more.

"We're constantly amazed by the innovative recipes chefs and mixologists submit for recognition in this program," said Kevin Moffitt, president/CEO, Pear Bureau Northwest. "The recipes presented to Pear Panache over the past two years have astounded even the most seasoned pear experts here at the Pear Bureau. We're eagerly awaiting this season's new crop of delicious pear creations."

To be considered for Pear Panache recognition, professional chefs should visit www.PearPanache.com to complete an online entry form and submit their original pear recipe. All recipe categories, including Appetizer, Salad, Entr�e, Dessert and Drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic) are encouraged. Recipes will be reviewed to ensure their usability for everyday home chefs, and graded on taste, demonstration of pears' versatility, originality, use of other seasonal ingredients, and visual appeal. Entry deadline is July 31, 2008.

About Pear Bureau Northwest and USA Pears:
Pear Bureau Northwest is the non-profit marketing organization established in 1931 to promote the fresh USA Pears grown in Washington and Oregon. Together, these two states represent 1,700 growers and 84 percent of the nation's fresh pear production. The Bureau also develops national and international markets for Northwest pear distribution. For more information, visit www.usapears.org.