Harry & David Kicks Off Fall Harvest

2012 Crop Offers Some of the Highest Quality, Sweetest Pears

MEDFORD, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--It’s harvest time! Harry & David, America’s gift experts for almost 80 years, welcomes the stars of Fall Harvest, Royal Riviera^® Pears. The pears, which thrive in the unique climate and soils found in only a few places in the world, are hand picked carefully from the branch, chilled to preserve sweetness, and then delivered to homes across the country in our gourmet fruit gift baskets and gift boxes. With a mild winter and no frost to speak of, the pears grown in Harry & David’s orchards this season are particularly clean, of good size, and sweet!

“Harry & David is thrilled to welcome our annual harvest and looking forward to our busiest time of the year”

Farming and stewardship of the land is at the heart of Harry & David’s business. These Royal Riviera® Pears are sustainably grown and come from more than 700,000 trees, which are grown locally in the Rogue River Valley in Oregon. At the peak of harvest, the pears are picked by approximately 330 professional harvesters and delivered to cooling facilities each day of harvest to ensure they are ripened to perfection.

“Harry & David is thrilled to welcome our annual harvest and looking forward to our busiest time of the year,” said Matt Borman, Orchard Director at Harry & David. “We pride ourselves in delivering the season’s freshest and most delicious fruits.”

Consumers can celebrate seasonal harvests with Harry & David’s “Fruit-of-the-Month Club® gifts.” The Signature Fruit Club is perfect for those who would like delicious and wholesome top-quality fruit, picked at their peak and shipped as soon as they’re harvested each month. The juicy Royal Riviera^® Pears can be enjoyed as early as October.

“Looking ahead, we are very excited about the future, particularly the upcoming holiday season, said Craig Johnson, CEO of Harry & David. “We are well positioned for this season. As we begin our pear harvest, we expect a great crop with a high percentage of gift quality fruit.”

Harry & David is America’s largest multi-channel marketer of gourmet gift fruits, fine chocolates, baked goods, confections and home décor accessories. For the latest deals and specials from Harry & David, join our Facebook fan page, Facebook.com/HarryandDavid, or visit www.harryanddavid.com.

About Harry & David

With close to an 80-year reputation for genuine farm-to-table freshness and unsurpassed artisanal quality, Harry & David is legendary for exclusive gifts such as the Fruit-of-the-Month Club® collection, featuring top-quality fruit, pampered on the tree, picked at its peak; Royal Riviera® Pears, prized for their lush juiciness, melting texture and exquisite flavor, many of which are grown in Harry & David’s Rogue Valley, Oregon pear orchards which are at the heart of the company’s success; Oregold® Peaches, the biggest, juiciest, sweetest-tasting peaches you’re likely to taste; and Moose Munch® gourmet snacks, most of which are made exclusively in our own confectionery, in flavors for everyone - some with nuts, some sweet, and some savory. Gifts from Harry & David, and its brands Cushman’s and Wolferman’s, are designed for festive occasions, entertaining and self enjoyment throughout the year. Through its stores, catalogs and website, Harry & David offers an affordable “best-of-class” experience as part of everyday life. Harry & David is a dba of Harry and David, LLC. http://www.harryanddavid.com