Aug 14, 2018

Northwest pear crop expected to be large

Northwest pear growers are estimating their 2018-19 crop will be the fourth-largest in history.

The estimate is based on data reported from Washington’s Wenatchee and Yakima districts and Oregon’s Mid-Columbia and Medford districts. The current estimate is around 20.2 million standard box equivalents or 444,400 tons. The initial season estimate was somewhat lower, at 18.9 million standard box equivalents, or approximately 415,000 tons of fresh pears.

“After last year’s very small crop, our growers are pleased to have a full crop of great quality pears to meet growing consumer demand,” said Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest (PBNW), a non-profit marketing group that represents about 900 growers. “Retailers have a strong opportunity for pear category growth in the produce department this season and we are prepared to provide them with individual category analysis, consumer insights, and effective promotions to drive pear sales.”

Picking has already begun throughout the four growing regions of the Northwest and will continue throughout August and September. Pick dates for the 2018-19 season are taking place roughly a week earlier than last season, staying close to the historical average. Starkrimson harvest has begun in most districts, with the Bartlett picking starting this week. Later in the month, harvest of Comice, Bosc, Forelle and Seckel will begin with Anjou harvest commencing in September.

Out of the leading varieties, the current estimates for this season are 9.9 million standard boxes for Green Anjou (about 49.2 percent of total Northwest fresh pear crop), 5.3 million standard boxes of Bartlett (26.0 percent of the total crop), and 3.2 million Bosc (15.7 percent of the total crop). Red Anjou will represent 5.1 percent of the crop with about 1 million standard boxes.

The organic pear estimate is expected to come in at 2 million standard boxes (44,000 tons), which would make up 10 percent of the total Northwest crop. Newly transitioned orchards and a strong pear crop overall have contributed to the growth in organic pears. Out of the entire organic crop, growers project 753,250 standard boxes of Green Anjou, with the Green Bartlett and Bosc crop sizes projected at 698,350 and 384,100 standard boxes, respectively.

The majority of consumers want to eat their pars within one to three days of purchase. This season, PBNW will re-invigorate the conditioned pear program, working closely with retailers to satisfy consumer demand for pears that are ripe and ready to eat. PBNW will also be expanding omnichannel promotions with retailers, including program development with social media and supermarket dietitians, as well as time-honored support of displaying multiple varieties, display and training contests, plus print and targeted digital ad promotions. One new piece of this year’s marketing initiative will be a series of videos that focus on growers and the pear industry as a whole.

The PBNW international team will be focused on activities in top markets for the 2018-19 season – Mexico, Central America, India, Middle East and Asia – with in-store sampling, nutrition workshops, consumer advertising, movie promotional tie-ins, social media and event activations. To combat the increase in competition in many of the export markets, PBNW will start promotion agreements one or two months long with key retailers to increase shelf space, and improve space and location with USA Pears on ad in the stores.