Anybody can enter the No-Fuss Pears-Plus canned pear recipe contest for a chance to win a Bartlett pear tree or one of three Amazon gift cards. Send us a short description (100 words max) of your favorite way to stir, fold, tuck, roll or add canned pears into your everyday cooking, and we'll enter your name into a random drawing for a Bartlett pear tree. Scroll down for details.

Why a Bartlett pear tree? The Bartlett is the only pear variety that is commercially grown and canned in Oregon and Washington. That's why we call them Pacific Northwest Canned Pears.   

Bartlett pears are first to the fresh market and an ideal pear to can because it's the variety that holds its shape and flavor. Canned pears are always ripe and ready.  

Most people agree that sending kids to school with a nutritious breakfast is important, so here are a few ideas designed to get your crew out the door in a hurry.

~ Stir diced pears and sliced almonds into oatmeal.

~ Blend up a Pear & Orange Smoothie. 

~ Layer pear slices on a whole-wheat pita or English muffin spread with peanut butter;  

~ Check out our collection of canned pear breakfast baked goods.  

We've got a contest for you, too, with cash prizes up to $1,000 per recipe. For details go to 

Pacific Northwest Canned Pear Service

No-Fuss Pears-Plus Contest ~ Random Drawing

Who can enter the contest?  Consumers and recipients of the Ripe 'n Ready e-newsletter. Entrants must be 21 years or older and a legal resident of the United States to be eligible to participate. Employees of the Pacific Northwest Canned Pear Service, the Washington State Fruit Commission, their affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, and immediate families and household members of each may not enter. Drawing is void where prohibited.

How to enter the drawing?  No purchase necessary. To enter, submit [in English] a short description (100words max) of your favorite way to stir, fold, tuck or roll canned pears into your everyday cooking, and we'll enter your name into a random drawing for one (1) dwarf Bartlett pear tree seedling to plant and three (3) Amazon gift cards, each with a $25 value. You may enter as many times as you wish, but each description must be entered in a separate email. All entries must include the entrant's name, address, daytime phone number and email address.

What are the prizes? 

GRAND PRIZE ~ One Dwarf Bartlett Pear Tree Seedling

~  Value: $30

~  Approximate height of the seedling: 18-24"

~  Seedling expected to yield first fruit after 2-3 years of growth in good conditions

~  Recommended for hardiness zones 5-8

~  Thrives in full sun

~  Grows 6-8 feet in height, and 6-7 feet in crown width

~  Fruit ripens in late August

~  Bartletts have a spicy, juicy taste and smooth, firm texture

RUNNERS UP PRIZES ~ Three (3) Amazon gift cards, each with a $25 value 

What is the deadline for entering?  Contest begins on October 15, 2012 and ends at 5pm (PST) November 15, 2012. Pacific Northwest Canned Pear Service assumes no responsibility for lost, late, misdirected or incomplete entries. Entries cannot be acknowledged or returned.

Where should entries be sent?  Email to: playwithyourpears@gmail.com.

All entries become the property of Pacific Northwest Canned Pear Service (PNCPS) and will not be returned. Submission of an entry grants PNCPS and its agents the right to publish, use, adapt, edit and/or modify such entry in any way, in any and all media, without limitation, and without additional consideration to the entrant. Submission of any entry further constitutes the entrant's consent to irrevocably assign and transfer to the sponsor any and all rights, title and interest in the entry, including, without limitation, all copyrights. No telephone calls or written correspondence will be accepted regarding this contest.

When will the winner be notified?  The winner will be notified by phone and email two weeks after the drawing deadline (by November 26, 2012). Chances of winning are determined by the total number of eligible entries received. By participating, entrants agree to these Official Rules. Limit one prize per person/family/household.

Except where prohibited, acceptance of prize constitutes winner's consent to the use of his/her name for publicity purposes, without limitation and additional compensation. By accepting a prize, the winner further agrees that the Pacific Northwest Canned Pear Service, and/or its related companies and its directors, employees, agents and advertising and promotion agencies are not liable for any injury, damage, liability, expense, accident, delay, irregularity, loss or claim arising from or in connection with acceptance, possession or use of the prize, and acknowledges that none of said parties have made or are in any manner responsible for any warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied, relative to any prize, including without limitation, its quality or fitness for a particular purpose. If prize notification or any prize is returned as undeliverable, the corresponding prize will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner.

Winners List - The winners will be posted on eatcannedpears.com and  facebook.com/eatcannedpears.

Sponsor - Pacific Northwest Canned Pear Service, 105 South 18th Street, Suite 205,
Yakima WA 98901-2145.