The History of Hood River and its Fruit
About Hood River and The Fruit Loop
Hood River is one of the most magnificent and
prolific fruit producing valleys in the world. Nationally, it
is one of the largest Anjou pear growing districts producing over
50% of the nation's winter pears. (Anjou, Bosc, Comice). Additionally,
Hood River produces over 11% of all the Bartlett pears grown in
the U.S. and the area’s Newtown Pippin apple is considered
the highest quality Pippin grown anywhere in the world.
The area's first fruit trees were planted in
1854, when Nathaniel Coe arrived into establish Oregon's first
post offices and mail routes.
Twenty-two years later, 1876 E.L. Smith planted
the first commercial orchard consisting of 30 acres of Newtown
Pippin and Spitzenburg apples and peaches. In time, apples became
the dominant crop.
In 1919, the Hood River Valley had a disastrous
freeze that killed many apple trees. At that time, many growers
replaced their crops with pears, so that today pears represent
75% of the fruit grown.
What makes Hood River’s fruit so exceptional
is the fertile volcanic soil, produced eons ago by eruptions of
long-silent Mt. Hood. Tempered with centuries of decomposed organic
materials this mineral rich earth combined with pure glacier water,
cool nights and warm growing days, makes biting into Hood River
fruit a crispy, juicy, delicious experience.
For
more information Hood River fruit, go to www.hoodriverfruitloop.com
