ORLANDO — Bakers competing in the American Pie Council (APC)’s 27th Annual National Pie Championships, to be held in April 29-30 in Orlando, will be challenged to create the perfect “pear”-ing: USA Pears and the most delicious pear pie.
The USA Pears flavor category — a first for the competition — is open to all divisions including commercial, independent, professional and amateur pie bakers at the championship event.
Amateur and professional bakers will have the opportunity to win $1,000 in each division for the first-place recipe, courtesy of sponsor USA Pears. Second place will be awarded $300 and third place will receive $200. Entries are due April 15, and entry forms are available on the National Pie Championships page of the APC website.
“We’re excited to participate in this year’s pie championship,” said Jim Morris, marketing communications manager for Pear Bureau Northwest. “Fresh pears are extremely versatile and are ‘pearfect’ in both sweet and savory pies.”
The US is the third largest pear-producing country in the world, and 84% of the fresh pears on American soil come from Oregon and Washington. Moisture from meandering rivers and glacial snowmelt feeds the region’s nutrient-rich volcanic soil and supports optimal nourishment for pear trees. Today’s Northwest pear varieties are similar to those first cultivated in France and Belgium, prized for their delicate flavor, buttery texture and shelf life.
USA Pears boast 10 varieties, each with their own texture, color and flavor that can create an array of pie creations ranging from tangy to sweet to spicy. Pears’ versatility also makes them easy to pair with fruits like apples and mangoes; nuts such as hazelnuts, chestnuts and walnuts; cheeses like brie and gouda; and even beef.
“USA Pears is a wonderful addition to our flavor categories for all of our competitors,” said Rick Hoskins, CEO of Colborne Foodbotics and APC board president. “It’s a fruit that can be used in so many ways in pies. We’re excited to not only identify the winning pies but to also share the recipes with our followers and fellow pie lovers so that they, too, can discover the pear’s flavorful baking qualities.”
For more information about the championships, visit the APC’s new website.
