Getting Ready for Pears

Getting Ready for Pears. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

As July slowly slides into August tree fruit harvest is getting underway for many varieties and according to Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest, the pear crop looks pretty good.

MOFFITT: We’re working off the estimates that were developed at the annual meeting on May 31st and we have a good pear crop at this moment on the trees. we’re looking at about 19.3 million boxes of pears versus last years record crop of 20.6. So we’re looking at a crop that could be down 6% from last year but about 2% over a five year average.

He says this should be a very manageable and profitable crop. Moffitt discusses individual varieties.

MOFFITT: We’ve seen steady growth in the Bartlett pears the last 5 or 6 years. And actually we’re seeing a little bit more volume trend in Anjou but really this year things are just down a little bit from last year overall. We had a huge Bosc crop last year and so this year the trees are taking a rest and we’re expecting a crop maybe 15% below that last season.

And what about the labor question.

MOFFITT: Yes, it’s a problem. Since we aren’t into our harvest yet it’s hard to say at this point but we’re hearing in California some labor shortages - 15 to 20% in some cases. I think as you’re talking to the cherry guys that they’re getting it done but maybe hurting a little bit. The biggest issue will be if we get a lot of overlap between apple and pear harvest.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.