Pear Harvest Set to Begin in Early July

Tim Hammerich

News Reporter

While many things are currently changing in our world, agriculture continues to produce food. Our state’s pear growers are looking ahead to a harvest that is likely to come a bit early this year. Here is California Pear Advisory Board Executive Director, Chris Zanobini.

Zanobini… “We're actually anticipating harvest to be a little earlier, so we anticipate really around July 6th. And I would say our typical average date would be somewhere around July 12th so about a week earlier. And I do think we had an early bloom, of course. Early bloom and warmer weather really has had probably the biggest impact on that.”

Zanobini says growers anticipate harvest to be about average overall, but some areas were hit with poor conditions in January and February that did impact fruit set. In the midst of COVID-19, the pear market has been fairly resilient.

Zanobini… “Pears have held their own, given that it is somewhat of a perishable commodity. And you've really seen through this COVID-19 pandemic, that items which have a little more long term storage capabilities to them have tended to do a little bit better. But I will have to say that pears have definitely held their own.”

Most of the pears in the state are grown in three main regions, the Sacramento Delta, the Mendocino County area, and the Lake County area. So, early July, make sure you find some delicious California Pears.