2014 Northwest Pear Crop Down Slightly
June 10, 2014 With reports of a crop of excellent quality from the Pacific Northwest growing regions of Wenatchee and Yakima, WA, as well as Mid-Columbia and Medford, OR, the projected pear crop is showing approximately 18.7 million standard 44-pound box equivalents (or 411,400 tons) of pears for the fresh market. This estimate is 6% smaller than the five-year average, and 13% smaller than last year’s record crop.
Harvest is expected to be a few days earlier than last season, beginning in late July with the Starkrimson and Bartlett pear varieties. Anjou, Red Anjou, Bosc, Comice, Concorde, Forelle, and Seckel will be picked from late August through mid-October. Growers are expecting excellent quality fruit, with no significant weather problems affecting the crop to date.
The top three varieties in terms of production remain the same as in previous years; Green Anjous are anticipated to make up 53% of the total 2014 crop, and Bartletts and Boscs are expected to yield 23% and 14% respectively.
Green Anjous are showing a projected decrease of 14% when compared to 2013, which makes for a Green Anjou crop size that is 8% smaller than the five-year average. Bartletts are expected to decrease by 12% when compared to last season’s large crop, making a crop yield for Bartletts that will be right on target with the five-year average. Growers anticipate that the Bosc crop will decrease by 17% compared to 2013. The size of the Red Anjou crop is expected to decrease by 8%, yielding a crop of average size.
Projections for the organic portion of the Northwest crop show a total of 870,775 standard 44-pound box equivalents (19,157 tons) of organic pears in the 2014 harvest. While a decrease of 8% when compared to the 2013 record organic crop, it actually represents a 4% increase over the five-year average. Bartlett and Green Anjou remain the most abundant two organic pear varieties, with Green Bartlett estimated at 311,150 organic standard 44-pound box equivalents, and Green Anjou projected yield at 254,000.
“While last year yielded the largest crop on record, this year’s crop is looking to be more in line with the five-year average,” said Pear Bureau Northwest’s president and CEO, Kevin Moffitt. “We haven’t had any major weather issues to date, and the industry is expecting a crop of excellent quality and fruit size to meet the demands of the domestic and export markets. We have a full season of promotions planned, as well as consumer advertising, social media, and PR to continue to raise consumer awareness and spur demand.”
This season’s domestic marketing program includes the launch of a new advertising campaign to help raise awareness about pear ripening and recipes. The Pear Bureau has commissioned new research and will continue to use its comprehensive, proprietary pear category data to custom-tailor merchandising and promotional plans for retailers nationwide. “Retailers want data showing them how their sales compare to their competitors along with merchandising ideas and solutions,” Moffitt said. “Our domestic team provides actionable data and marketing solutions to help retailers improve their pear categories.”
Source: Pear Bureau Northwest
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