Check your pantry for canned pears, a ripe and ready breakfast menu solution any time of year.
~ Top hot and cold cereal with diced canned pears.
~ Layer canned pears and yogurt in tasty parfaits.
~ Dress up canned pear halves with colorful blueberries.
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Have a little fun with Peary Winkle for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Download the coloring page, color and write in your favorite breakfast, scan or take a picture, and post on the Eat Canned Pears Facebook page. Post your entry by March 21, 2016.
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Show us how you've put the "Pear Power" materials to work in your cafeteria or classroom for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card for you or your school. Send your photo to pears@eatcannedpears.com no later than April 15, and be sure to include your name and contact information. On April 22 we'll contact winner(s) directly and announce them on Facebook the following week.
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A favorite of students and foodservice operators, canned pears are a staple on many school menus, purchased to meet US Department of Agriculture (USDA) fruit serving requirements and to provide a flavor treat.
The Pacific Northwest Canned Pear Service advises canned pear purchasers to look closely for the product's country of origin. When it comes to canned pears, a low price point may not add up to value. In terms of safety, quality and flavor, fruit grown and processed in the United States enjoys several advantages.
Safety is a big concern for schools, and USDA grade standards are not always used in countries exporting foods into the United States. Misleading terms like "choice quality" should not be considered a replacement for USDA approval. Finally, as a congressional member of the Safe Climate Caucus points out (Congressman John Garamendi in a letter to the Sacramento Unified School District*), purchasing foreign goods has a negative environmental impact. Many imports must be shipped from half a world away, which takes substantial energy resources. US agriculture is not only grown with much more environmental friendliness, sourcing could even be local.
USA-grown and processed canned Bartlett pears combine quality, safety, familiarity, and price to deliver a considerably better value, proving that the "Product of the USA" label makes a significant difference for school foodservice purchasers.
Equally important, the USDA mandates and enforces a "Buy American Provision" when it comes to school lunches and looks to school foodservice programs to purchase USA grown and processed fruit.
* To request a copy of Congressman Garamendi's letter, contact us at pears@eatcannedpears.com. Use the subject line: Garamendi Letter.
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