Celilo Restaurant and Bar
pany’s owner, Scott Webster, who prefers the company to be referred to as thefruitcompany.com. The company was launched 14 years ago by Webster and his brother, Addison (who later moved out of the state and sold his share of the business to Scott). But Webster’s roots—and that of the business—go much deeper. His grandfather, Roy Webster, moved to the Hood River Valley in 1942 and bought some prime orchard land in the rolling hills north of Odell. Roy fell in love with the Comice pear and was soon producing more Comice than any other grower in the area. “Grandpa thought there was a grand future in the Comice,” Webster said. The Comice is a finicky pear—“it’s hard to grow with a good finish,” Webster said—but it’s one of the sweetest and juiciest of pears, with an almost creamy flesh. Roy Webster was so enthusiastic about getting the Comice pear, and other Hood River Valley fruit, out into the world that he
“Grandpa thought there was a grand future in the Comice,” said Scott Webster, of the premium pear. He was soon producing more Comice pears than any other grower in the area, and today Webster Orchards continues to be one of the largest producers of Comice.
started one of the first mail-order businesses,
Good food is at the heart of any celebration. Open Daily Lunch 11:30-3, Dinner from 5pm Open Christmas Eve + New Year’s Eve
Serving
sending Webster Orchards Comice pears
That’s when Scott Webster returned home,
and other fruit around the region for $7.50
after graduating from college and work-
a bushel. Unfortunately, lack of a good ship-
ing for a few years in the software world. At
ping infrastructure, among other problems,
the time, competition from foreign fruit was
Catering
made it a tough sell. But the orchards were
hitting orchardists hard. Webster knew that
Weddings • Private parties • On/Offsite
solid and Scott Webster’s dad, Wayne, joined
simply taking over the family business and
the family business when he grew up, run-
running it as his father had wasn’t going to
ning Webster Orchards until the late 1990s.
cut it. He knew he had to come up with a
Pacific Northwest cuisine with an emphasis on locally grown products, extensive wine menu and full bar
To:
cards Celilo gift t Holiday are perfec presents!
From:
541-386-5710 16 Oak Street, Hood River, OR www.celilorestaurant.com
the gorge magazine // winter 2014 73