Pear Markets Pt 2
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. With roughly 10.6-million boxes of Northwest pears expected this year, distribution to the different markets won’t be easy.
Pear Bureau Northwest International Marketing Director, Jeff Correa says smaller may be more normal than it used to be …
CORREA … “So, it’s a challenge. So, our peak is not as high as it was 10 years ago. It may be 16.5 maybe 17-million boxes at the most. Whereas 10-years ago we were at over 21 million boxes. I don’t think we have that fruit in the ground anymore.”
The adjustment, Correa says will take some getting used to …
CORREA … “But in a sense, I think we’re sort of rightsizing to what the global market, you know, realities as during that time 10-years ago we were shipping to Europe, we were shipping to Russia, we were shipping big volumes to the Middle East. We’re not going back to those export levels.”
So, what is “normal” these days? …
CORREA … “I think we’re at 16.5 or if we get to 17-million boxes, that maybe fits where we need to ship and with the domestic market, Mexico and Canada carrying the vast majority of that.”
But Correa says we’ve still got to sell them …
CORREA … “You know, even though it’s a short crop, we’re still out there meeting with the importers, the retailers to, you know, drum up as much business as we can.”
Despite this year’s shorter crop, Correa expects this years’ harvest to continue delivering a great eating experience for consumers.
