Harvest Wrap Pears
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson and this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. Harvest season is wrapping up, or will be soon, for northwest pear and apple growers.
Jon DeVaney, President of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, says both crops are looking pretty good this year following some challenges in recent years …
DeVANEY … “For both the apple and pear crops, they’re looking to be at the upper end of the average ranges where they’re both big crops this year.”
Which, DeVaney says is good news for our tree fruit industry, but not too surprising …
DeVANEY … “Particularly for pears. Last year we had an unusually small pear crop due to some weather factors that severely reduced the crop size. Those trees do like to bounce back after they’ve had a small crop.”
And bounce back, they did …
DeVANEY … “We’re looking at a pear crop that’s, you know, ample and that’s great news for those who were disappointed by not having as many pears as they wanted last year.”
So, pear lovers, DeVaney says should be in pretty good shape this year, availability wise …
DeVANEY … “I know, I was back in Washington D.C. just about two weeks ago with some industry folks talking to members and staff on the hill, and one of the staff was complaining that she had found too many Argentine pears in her grocery store and was wondering why there was not enough Northwest pears available. And we explained about that lower crop size and the great news, of course being, that we will not have that problem this year.”
And DeVaney says they’re expecting good prices so consumers should be able to enjoy this year’s ample crop.
