The Chinese mainland is expected to rank among the top five export markets for pears from the US within the next two to three fruit seasons, Pear Bureau Northwest said recently.

The first three containers of USA Pears - the name given to the fruit variety grown in Oregon and Washington state - arrived at Dalian, Liaoning province, on Feb 21.

"Based on our successful experience in the Hong Kong and Taiwan markets, we are confident that the Chinese mainland market will rank among the top five export markets for USA Pears within the next two or three fruit seasons," said Kevin D. Moffitt, Pear Bureau Northwest CEO.

Pear Bureau Northwest will offer training to Chinese importers and retailers and launch marketing activities in major cities, including Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.

Jeff Correa, Pear Bureau Northwest's director of international marketing, estimated that 25,000 to 40,000 standard 44-pound boxes of pears will be shipped to China soon.

China has become the biggest export market for US agricultural products. Imported agricultural products from the US totaled $23.3 billion in 2011.