Harvest Season along the Fruit Loop By Pat Snider
No, the Fruit Loop is not the name of a candy treat, a Carmen Miranda earring, or a ride at the state fair. It's a 35-mile scenic meander through the fruit orchards, small towns, and back roads of the Hood River Valley. Located about 45 minutes east of Portland by way of the Columbia Gorge, and directly south of the town of Hood River, the area is Oregon's largest fruit growing region. Over thirty percent of the nation's winter pears are harvested here, along with a variety of apples, berries, peaches, and cherries.