From Finland to Hood River: A Family Legacy in Pears Continues with Herb’s Harvest

Zachary and Hilma Annala

In 1909, my husband Herbie’s great-grandparents, Zachary and Hilma Annala, left the prairies of North Dakota for the fertile soils of Oregon’s Hood River Valley. They purchased the Chandler property on Country Club Road and planted apples, strawberries, and pears. That move marked the beginning of a family tradition now more than a century old: farming the valley’s orchards with grit, care, and a long view for the next generation.

Their journey began even earlier, when Jacob and Maria Annala — Zachary’s parents — immigrated from Finland in the 1880s. The family endured sod houses, prairie fires, and harsh winters before eventually joining other Finnish families in Hood River. By the time Zachary and Hilma arrived, they had already faced their share of hardship, but they also carried with them the resilience and hope that has been passed down through each generation of Annalas since.

Herbie & Tim Annala

That legacy has been carried forward by Herbie’s father, Tim Annala, who in 2025 marked his 50th year of farming in Hood River. For five decades, Tim poured his life into Annala Orchards. He is the one who replanted and renewed the orchard blocks, studying and applying horticultural practices that have kept the trees productive and healthy. While farmers never truly retire, Tim has begun to step back from the daily demands of orchard work, leaving behind a thriving farm that reflects his deep knowledge and tireless commitment. His contribution to the Annala family farm cannot be overstated — the orchards we walk through today are a direct result of his vision and persistence.

But farming is never static. The past few years the pear industry has seen many ups and downs and faced with some unknowns as pear processors face closure. For small farmers like us, those closures meant there could potentially be no market for smaller pears that don’t size up for the fresh pack.

Instead of risking small fruit going to waste, we saw an opportunity. This season we’re proud to launch Herb’s Harvest, a small-batch canned Bartlett pear label named for Herbie, — the farmer who rarely takes a day off and whose quiet dedication keeps our orchard thriving today. Working with a local family-run cannery, we’re turning fruit from our older trees into cans of light-syrup pears, packed with care and ready to be enjoyed year-round.

Our first run is modest: just 1,700 cans, representing about 3,000 pounds of pears. Compared to the million plus pounds we harvest annually, it’s a tiny fraction — but it means the world to us. These are pears that would otherwise be tossed aside or sold at very low prices, now preserved as something we can share at our holiday pop-ups and at Sandoz Farm.

Launching Herb’s Harvest isn’t just about a product. It’s about continuing a legacy. From Zachary and Hilma’s first orchard in 1909, to Tim’s fifty years of tireless stewardship, to Herbie carrying the farm into the future — every generation has faced challenges and found a way forward.

Herb’s Harvest is our way of honoring that resilience, of making sure nothing goes to waste, and of sharing the taste of Hood River pears with families beyond our valley.

When you open a can of Herb’s Harvest pears, you’re not just tasting fruit. You’re tasting history, perseverance, and the story of a family who has farmed this valley for more than 115 years — and intends to keep doing so for generations to come.

Purchase this product in person as our holiday pop up shops at the kitchen in Hood River or from Sandoz Farm in The Dalles, OR.

Dani's Kitchen Shop Holiday Pop Ups:

• October 30th and 31st 10am-2pm

• November 21st 10am-2pm

• December 5th and 6th 10am-2pm

• December 12th and 13th 10am-2pm

• December 19th and 20th 10am-2pm

  
  

-Dani Annala