THE BROTHERHOOD
Confraria da Pera Rocha do Oeste was formed by Associação Nacional de Produtores de Pera Rocha (National Association of Pera Rocha Producers) and was the first in the country linked to this fruit. The deed of constitution and the 1st Enthronement Ceremony took place at the Cadaval Town Hall on the 25th of May 2004.
On the 2nd of June of the same year, the formal presentation of the Brotherhood and the 2nd Enthronement Ceremony took place, as well as the Pera Rocha Dessert Recipes Contest. At that event, new Brothers and Protective Ambassadors of Pera Rocha do Oeste were enthroned, including Armando Sevinate Pinto, Minister of Agriculture at that time, and Fernando Seabra, Mayor of Sintra at that time.
The ceremony took place in Sintra because it was at a property in that municipality, Fazenda Rocha belonging to Pedro António Rocha, that the first Rocha pear tree was identified, in 1836.
THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE BROTHERHOOD
TO PROMOTE THE CONSUMPTION OF FRUIT AND OF PERA ROCHA DO OESTE
TO SUPPORT WORKS BEING WRITTEN ON PERA ROCHA DO OESTE AND THEIR DISCLOSURE
TO DISCLOSE, USING ALL APPROPRIATE MEANS, THE VIRTUES AND TRADITIONS OF PERA ROCHA DO OESTE
TO ORGANISE QUALITATIVE CLASSIFICATION COMPETITIONS, WITH THE POSSIBILITIY OF CREATING BADGES OR OTHERS
TO USE ALL MEANS TO ENDEAVOUR TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF PERA ROCHA DO OESTE AS A HIGH-QUALITY PORTUGUESE PRODUCT, PASSING ON THIS MESSAGE WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF RAISING CONSUMER AWARENESS
STATUTORY BODIES
CURIA OF THE AMBASSADORS
The Curia of the Ambassadors of Honour of the Confararia da Pera Rocha do Oeste is a group of advisers who help the Brotherhood to achieve its aims. The Curia also plays a consultative role to the Chancery.
There are two types of Ambassador:
Protective Ambassadors of Pera Rocha do Oeste
Protective Ambassadors of Pera Rocha do Oeste are institutions that have received an Insignia as supporters of the Brotherhood and as such, make a regular financial contribution to use all their usual means to promote the consumption of Pera Rocha do Oeste as the healthy fruit of choice with high gastronomic value.
Ambassadors of Honour of the Confraria da Pera Rocha do Oeste
Those who wish to defend and disclose the specific aspects of Pera Rocha do Oeste are Ambassadors of Honour of the Confraria da Pera Rocha do Oeste.
They have received an Insignia as Ambassadors to use all their usual means to promote the consumption of Pera Rocha do Oeste as the healthy fruit of choice with high gastronomic value.