Pacific Northwest Pear Crop Expected To Stay The Course

Pacific Northwest pear growers announced today the 2016 crop is expected to be slightly higher than last year, but down somewhat from the five-year average.

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Growers from the various Northwest areas are releasing fresh pear harvest projections following their annual meetings in Portland, OR, last week.

Collectively, Washington’s Wenatchee and Yakima regions and Oregon’s Mid-Columbia and Medford regions estimate a fresh pear harvest of 18.7 million standard box equivalents, or 414,000 tons of fresh pears. These figures are up 2% from 2015 final harvest figures, but represent a 7% decrease from the five-year average.

Warm spring weather and good pollination led to a full bloom, with no significant weather events to hurt the fruit finish.

“Growers are reporting beautiful, clean fruit that is filling out nicely in terms of fruit size,” says Kevin Moffitt, President and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest (PBNW).

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Harvest is expected slightly earlier than historical average, but similar to the last two years, with ‘Starkrimson’ expected in the last days of July, ‘Bartlett’ in the first days of August, and ‘Anjou,’ ‘Bosc,’ and ‘Comice’ in the last two weeks of August, across the four growing regions. ‘Concorde,’ ‘Forelle,’ and ‘Seckel’ will be picked from late August through September.

The top three varieties produced by Northwest growers remain the same as in previous years: ‘Green Anjou’ pears are anticipated to make up 50% of the total 2016 crop, and ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Bosc’ pears are expected to yield 23% and 17%, respectively.

‘Green Anjou’ pears are showing a projected crop decrease of 3% compared with 2015, and a 13% drop compared to the five-year average. Growers estimate the ‘Bartlett’ crop yield will increase by 9% compared with last season’s results, matching the five-year average. The ‘Bosc’ crop increase is expected to be 4% over the 2015 harvest, 3% higher than the five-year average.  The size of the ‘Red Anjou’ pear crop is expected to be 3% higher than last year, but down by 3% compared to the five-year average.

Harvest of certified organic pears in the Northwest is projected to make up about 6% of the crop, with 1,103,600 standard boxes (24,279 tons) for 2016, up 14% compared with 2015. The organic ‘Green Anjou’ crop is expected to be 430,000 standard boxes, while the ‘Green Bartlett’ and ‘Bosc’ crop sizes are estimated at 310,000 and 235,000 standard boxes respectively.

“The industry expects a crop of excellent quality fruit with ample supplies for both the domestic and export markets,” Moffitt says. “The Pear Bureau will help keep demand for pears high worldwide through marketing communications, educational and promotional programs, and consumer sampling at retail and at events, maximizing profits for growers.”

At the beginning of each season, PBNW staff provides domestic and Canadian retail buyers with customized category analysis showing their pear category performance compared to their competition. The analysis identifies opportunity gaps and the pear team suggests best practices and promotions to improve pear sales and profits for retailers.

Throughout the season the PBNW team is a resource for retailers, sharing cutting-edge consumer and trade research results and trade best practice techniques on the Trade.usapears.org website. The new trade focused site is rich with tools to support pear category sales as well as a section to train produce personnel on handling and merchandising of fresh pears.

With U.S. and Canadian consumers, PBNW will work to increase pear consumption through a multi-year, snack-focused campaign, promoting pears as “pairable,” packable, and nutritious. Messaging will be delivered through consumer magazine and digital advertising, teaching people how to know when a pear is ripe and sweet.

Exports remain a vital part of the success of the industry and typically account for around 40% of the total sales in a given season – including Canada – according to Global Trade Atlas. Export activities for PBNW are spread across nearly 30 countries worldwide, supporting a diverse portfolio of markets for greater grower returns.

A final initiative for the season will be an effort to PearUP! with industry partners, including commodity boards, industry experts, cross-store vendors, and food industry segments to expand the reach of Northwest pears across retail, digital communications, and events.

“Partnerships with wine and cheese brands and other ‘pear-able’ ingredients like packaged salads, nuts, and yogurt create buzz and excitement about Washington and Oregon pears,” Moffitt says. “And teaming up with industry colleagues like The Produce Mom and Produce for Better Health expands our reach and support.”

 

 

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