Pear Export Challenges Pt 1

Pear Export Challenges Pt 1

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. Northwest pears have seen as many challenges as any when it comes to transportation and reaching the consumers.

But, what does Pear Bureau Northwest International Marketing Director, Jeff Correa believe to be their biggest challenge?

CORREA … “Well, the challenge I think is, probably what everyone else has been speaking to, is the offshore export markets. Anything that’s going to get loaded into a container and has to go out of SeaTac or one of the other West Coast ports, and go out to Asia or down to South America or out to the Middle East. Those have all been heavily impacted.”

The numbers, Correa says, are a bit deceptive …

CORREA … “We’re down about 30% to 70% depending on the market, from last years. But that was such a small crop that we’re really, kind of, down 50% to 85% compared to what would be a “normal” season.”

But, thanks to our neighbors …

CORREA … “It’s been a big impact. We’re really appreciative of the volumes that Mexico and Canada have been able to take and kind of offset that loss this season.”

So, Correa says, the lower volumes the past couple of years have actually helped, kind of …

CORREA … “I mean it could have been much worse if we had a much larger crop and really needed to move those 600 to 700,000 boxes to those offshore export markets.”

Tune in tomorrow for more on the export challenges for pears.

To hear all of Correa’s comments, go to the latest Bearing Fruit podcast on your favorite podcast apps.

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