10/22/07 Pearville

FGR102407 :90 + :60 = 2:30 Pearville. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. It sounds like a Saturday morning live action TV shows created by Sid & Marty Krofft back in the 70's but recently Pear Bureau Northwest created "Pearville" in conjunction with Disney. Christie Mather is the Communications Manager for Pear Bureau Northwest. MATHER: The Pearville Fair is a special exhibit which is a part of the Epcot's 12th Annual Food and Wine Festival. What we've brought to this festival is a presence that lasts for 45 days. We're in the American Adventure Pavilion area and it is a family friendly event where families can come and learn about pears  learn where pears are grown in the Unites States. Pearville Fair is more than just informational. Mather says the display was designed to be interactive and fun. MATHER: Kids and families can play games together to kind of help reinforce what they are learning so we have pear facts, we have a place where you can check the neck for ripeness  you can actually feel different levels of softness to tell when a pear is ripe and then when families go home they will remember after getting all that practice on that fun game how to tell when their pear is ripe and sweet and juicy. Disney has been selling pears at the event and Mather says they have been quite popular. MATHER: They have been selling like hotcakes! (Laughs) That was one thing we had planned on a certain amount to sell to the guests that come into the Pearville Fair but with our games and with our cooking demonstrations that we are also doing there, people are getting really excited and their appetites are definitely whetted for a fresh pear so we've been selling about 3 times the amount per day that Disney originally thought that they would sell. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.