Pear Markets Pt 1
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. Even though Northwest pear growers are looking at their smallest crop in over 40-years, the efforts continue to sell this year’s fruit in a way that satisfies the different markets.
Jeff Correa, International Marketing Director at Pear Bureau Northwest, says we’ve got to decide who gets what and how much …
CORREA … “That’s the challenge and I think we’ve talked with some of the sales organizations, exporters, and they’re still trying to figure out expectations of where they’re going to go with the fruit.”
That includes, Correa says both exports and domestic …
CORREA … “Overall, it’s just going to be a challenge of balancing the needs of the top customers, whether they’re domestic or export, and how to keep supplying them at some level and keep shelf space at retail for our pears. So, it’s going to be challenge for, I think, all sales organizations to balance that throughout the season and how long can you extend out the season as much as possible with 10.6-million boxes.”
And that won’t be easy …
CORREA … “I think they’re looking at how to manage the volume and extend the season as long as possible. So, there’s still a lot of “what ifs” in terms of the strategy to sell the fruit this season.”
Correa says we’ll need to pace ourselves …
CORREA … “When you’re looking at a season like this, I think there may be, you know, more shippers who are willing to not go out the gate as fast as normal and try to string things out as long as possible.”
Tune in tomorrow for more on what may be the new normal for Northwest Pears.
