FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS
Deborah Pleva
deb@leeweinstein.biz
(503) 250-4750
Portland Farmers Market Sponsors Pear Contest on Twitter Sept. 21-27, 2009
"What is Your Favorite Way to Have a Pear?”
Best Tweet in 140 Characters Wins Prize!
Portland, Ore., September 14, 2009 It’s pear season at Portland Farmers Market and in celebration the venerable nonprofit, now in its 18th year, is rolling wordplay, love of pears and the nation’s new favorite pastime – Twitter – into a weeklong contest, September 21 until midnight (PDT), September 27.
The best tweet responding to the question, “What is your favorite way to have a pear?” will win a $100 gift card from Powell’s Books and a gift box of pears from The Fruit Company in Hood River, courtesy of USA Pears. Tweets should be sent via Twitter/portlandfarmers.
“We’re now the most followed farmers market on Twitter and one of the most fanned farmers markets in the U.S. on Facebook,” said Ann Forsthoefel, Executive Director of Portland Farmers Market. “Portland Farmers Market brings the best of the country to the heart of the city. We’re really pleased to be on social media to help connect farmers, growers, ranchers and market-goers with each other in conversation.”
Courtenay Hameister of OPB’s Radio’s Live Wire! show, will throw-out the ceremonial first tweet on Monday, September, 21. Any tweet containing ‘@portlandfarmers’ and pear (abbreviations pr, p, per are acceptable substitutions) will be eligible for the prize. Special prize will be awarded to the most valuable Retweeter: The person who retweets the pear contest most frequently will win a Portland Farmers Market tote bag and be the envy of friends and neighbors.
The winning Tweet will be chosen by judges Cristie Mather of USA Pears www.usapears.org (@USApears on Twitter); Matthew Dickman, APR/Honickman Award Winner and author of All-American Poem; and Cory Schreiber, co-author of Rustic Fruit Desserts. Finalists will be featured on portlandfarmersmarket.org starting September 28 until the winner is announced on Twitter on Friday, October 2nd.
In other voting news, Portland Farmers Market continues to be the #1 market by readers of The Huffington Post. Portland Farmers Market can be found on Facebook also at Portland Farmers Market (or http://tinyurl.com/mbyn99).
About Portland Farmers Market
Founded in 1992, Portland Farmers Market, a nonprofit 501(c)6, supports the region’s farmers and creating vibrant urban marketplaces where growers and consumers come together. This nonprofit’s staff of four full-time and four part-time employees aims to grow, nourish and inspire the community by staging weekly markets in five different locations throughout the Portland area from March until December. In addition to managing the markets, Portland Farmers Market has been an early leader in Portland’s sustainability movement and has served as an incubator for small businesses. With more than 250 vendors from Oregon and Washington – including farms, bakeries, nurseries, meat and seafood providers, cheese makers and specialty food producers – Portland Farmers Market is a true showplace of Northwest agriculture. www.portlandfarmersmarket.org
# # #
Pear Bureau Northwest prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, political beliefs, or disability. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the Pear Bureau at (503) 652-9720.