Pear Numbers Update
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. The final numbers aren’t in yet, but northwest pear harvest certainly saw a significant improvement over last year.
Pear Bureau Northwest President and CEO, CarrieAnn Arias, in her second year on the job, says this year saw a massive improvement in pear numbers …
ARIAS … “We definitely have been vastly different than with my first year with the organization, last year’s crop right around 10 million boxes. We’re looking at, reported, around 19 million. Of course, that doesn’t include shrink and those types of things that happen. So, our final numbers or the season, when it wraps up, obviously will be a little different.”
But Arias says these are challenging times and the numbers don’t begin to tell the whole story …
ARIAS … “Much improved from a volume perspective. Many people have asked me around what exactly that means as far as the canary that has closed and the impact of that.”
Arias says the closure of the Del Monte plant canceled contracts just weeks before harvest, but we won’t know the total impact until the numbers are in ...
ARIAS … “Certainly, you know, Bartlett numbers are definitely up. We do not ask our members to tell us what would have gone to the canary, so what percentage that is remains to be seen. I’m sure there will be some anecdotal stories once we’re moved past Bartlett season, about how much that really looks like.”
Arias says a surprise purchase from USDA has helped ease some of the pain.
