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Rogue Valley pear grower hits hard times

The Columbian
Published: March 8, 2011, 12:00am

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — A late spring frost last year and tight money this year have led one of the Rogue Valley’s major pear industry players to lay off half its year-round staff.

Phoenix-based Associated Fruit President David Lowry told the Medford Mail Tribune the state’s land-use system, intended to protect farmland, has instead put a lid on what lenders are willing to loan growers. Lowry says farmland doesn’t have much value in Oregon.

He says his company plans to sell or idle some acreage to keep the company running.

Lowry says his company expected normal production last year, but bouts of extreme cold froze the pears. It’s the company’s worst crop devastation in 30 years.

The company said at least a dozen employees lost their jobs.

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Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/

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