Developing Pears

Developing Pears. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

The NW pear industry has a long history. The varieties grown here go way back. Ray Schmitten with Schmitten Orchards in Cashmere talks about how the varieties grown here really have not changed much.

SCHMITTEN: Pears have been around a long time and we just happen to be growing pears that have been produced and cultivated for up to 300 years. Forelle was first noted in books back in the 1600’s; Bartlett 1700‘s; Anjou 1700’s; Abate Fetel, Bosc, Comice. Seckel was a native plant to the United States and was used by Native Indians. Red Bartlett even back to the 1930’s so we don’t have many new varieties and it seems like every time we try a new variety, it hasn’t turned out so well.

But Schmitten says that doesn’t mean there isn’t one out there that would do well here in the northwest. He also says there are a lot of challenges for the industry including research.

SCHMITTEN: Through the research subcommittee for the Pacific Northwest Pear Bureau we try to set priorities for research. And what we want to do for our growers is improve our production. There’s quite a few priorities that we’ve got to focus on.

Schmitten was speaking to the 2012 Hort convention.

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