2015 Fresh Pear Crop Estimate Released
June 10, 2015 Nearly 451,000 tons of fresh pears are expected this year, which equates to 20.4 million standard boxes. These figures, which are 2% higher than the five-year average and 2% lower than last year’s crop, were collected from fresh pear growers in Wenatchee and Yakima, WA and Mid-Columbia and Medford, OR growing districts during the annual meeting of Northwest growers last week in Portland, OR.
“This year’s projection, while down from the last two years, still predicts a solid, manageable pear crop with promotable quantities for both the domestic and export markets.” said Kevin Moffitt, Pear Bureau Northwest’s president and CEO.
With relatively mild winter and warm spring conditions in the regions, harvest is expected to be five to seven days earlier than last season, beginning in late July with Starkrimson, followed by Bartletts in early August. Anjou, Red Anjou, Bosc, Comice, Concorde, Forelle, and Seckel will be picked from late August through September. With no major frost issues, crop quality is expected to be excellent with good fruit size for the domestic and export markets.
The top three varieties produced by Northwest growers remain the same as in previous years; Green Anjou pears are anticipated to make up 54% of the total 2015 crop, and Bartlett and Bosc pears are expected to yield 21% and 15%, respectively.
Green Anjou pears are showing a projected crop decrease of 1% compared with 2014, but 1% above the five-year average. Bartlett pears are expected to decrease by 7% compared with last season’s results, with a crop yield of 1% increase over the five-year average. Growers anticipate that the Bosc pear crop will increase 5% over the 2014 harvest, or 4% higher than the five-year average. The size of the Red Anjou pear crop is expected to decrease by 4% from last year, but remains up 4% compared to the five-year average.
Harvest of certified organic pears in the Northwest is projected to make up about 5% of the total with 974,115 standard boxes (21,430 tons) for the 2015 harvest, a decrease of over 11% when compared with a strong 2014 organic crop, but still a healthy 8% increase over the five-year average. Bartlett and Green Anjou are the two most abundant organic pear varieties, with Bartlett estimated at 301,500 organic standard boxes, and Green Anjou projected yield at 377,000 boxes for 2015.
For the 2015-16 season, the Pear Bureau will conduct export promotions in 36 countries worldwide, with fourteen international marketing representatives coordinating promotions for USA Pears with both consumer and trade activities targeted for each country’s market. Focus will continue on the top export markets for USA Pears including Mexico, Canada, Colombia, and the UAE, as well as China and India, which remain two of the strongest growth markets for the industry. The Pear Bureau is also prepared to reintroduce promotional activities in Russia — a former top three export destination —should the market reopen to U.S. exports.
Source: Pear Bureau Northwest
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