The Fruit Company

by Stephanie, Graphic Designer – Brand Manager

The summer is definitely nearing a close. The nights are chilly, the mornings crisp and clear, and the leaves throughout the Columbia Gorge are beginning to turn. That also means that we’re harvesting this season’s bounty of pears. In case you haven’t heard our proud boasting in our eNewsletter Fruition, Hood River County grows almost a third of the nation’s pears and we have dozens upon dozens of proud families growing pears throughout the valley.

This weekend is the Hood River Pear Celebration, timely enough, and almost all of the fruit stands, shops, and businesses (including The Fruit Company) along the Fruit Loop are celebrating our largest export. Take a winding tour along the loop through the orchards with views of stately Mt. Hood and charming vistas and enjoy the season’s bounty.

Speaking of bounty, TravelOregon.com has been a wealth of information about tourism in Oregon, including its celebration of the Oregon Bounty. Check out their fun website for further information on events, festivals, culinary delights, and more throughout our amazing state. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a huge case of Oregon Ego, and the publications and various media produced by Travel Oregon only increase that tenfold.

By Ryan, eCommerce Manager 

On this past Labor Day I swam the Roy Webster swim for my third year in a row. It’s not really that difficult but pretty cool to say you swam across the MASSIVE Columbia River. Our team from The Fruit Company was the largest of around 21 people. Scott Webster, our CEO and President, convinced our Production Manager Pepe to swim, when Pepe’s swimming skills are little to non-existent (he might have almost drowned as a teenager). So…Pepe shows up to the swim with 2 wetsuits on, flippers, a kickboard, and one of those old school orange life vests. Needless to say it was quite amusing. My swim day started at 5am in the morning and everyone participating in the swim boarded the historic Sternwheeler and rode to the Washington side of the river. Where I jumped off the boat into the chilly Columbia River. The swim took me roughly 30 minutes and then after finishing I was greeted by other employees of The Fruit Company with fresh fruit for everybody participating in the swim. Everybody from The Fruit Company finished the swim(including Pepe) and then we went to a great breakfast together hosted by the Hood River Inn on the waterfront. Props to Roy Webster for starting this unique swim event and the Hood River Chamber of Commerce for hosting it each year.

by Stephanie, Graphic Designer-Brand Manager

We recently rediscovered this gem of a poem written by Scott and Addison’s grandfather, Roy Webster. Every year here in Hood River the community holds the Roy Webster Columbia River Cross Channel Swim on Labor Day weekend, in memory of a visionary orchardist and health enthusiast. He wrote this poem in 1984, when he was 83 years old. His last swim was in 1986 at the age of 85.

The Big Swim

Sometimes I feel my youth has been spent
When I think where my getup and go has went.
But nevertheless I can manage to grin
As I ready myself for the annual swim
Across the Columbia about a mile wide
From Washington State to the Oregon side.

There are kids in their teens and swimmers mature
Who succumb each year to the swimmathon lure
Of the cross-river swim– not too far away
Held up in Hood River on each Labor Day.
It tickles me pink to think I still swim
When I think where my getup and go has been!

So once again for the fortieth time
I’ll be swimming the river as I did in my prime.
And hoping the weather is sunny and warm
With no clouds in the sky and no trace of a storm.
For 200 or more are planning to swim it
Which is this year’s maximum security limit.*

Not a race, nor a contest, but just an achievement
To accomplish a goal– and thus bring appeasement
To tha turge that lies dormant in everyone’s soul
To do something noteworthy however modest the goal.
And so to each swimmer who embarks on the swim–
Good luck and good swimming as you respect win.

Respect of those who wish that they too
Could swim as well and as far as you!

* – Now the “maximum security limit” is 500 people, rather than 200. Sign up now if you’re in the area and swim for Roy!

by Ryan, eCommerce Manager 

Hood River has a 4th of July annual parade. The parade is a great opportunity for the community to come together. The community allows anyone to enter and this leads to many interesting entries into the parade, which can consist of anything from a float, to bikes to people walking with signs. It makes for a very LONG and unique parade. The Fruit Company express/tractor pulling cars cruised the streets of Hood River for the parade throwing out candy and greeting the crowds, we did not get any pics of the tram in the parade, sorry. The 4th of July parade reminds you of how great this small little community of Hood River is. For more info and pics of the parade visit the Hood River News.

I took part in the annual 4th of July run. This was my first race and what a blistering day to run, like 90 degrees. The last section of the race runs right alongside the parade. It was awesome to hear everyone cheering (not for you but the parade) but still nice and motivating. Hope everyone else had a great 4th.