WENATCHEE — This year’s pear crop is looking larger than last year and could be the fourth-largest crop in history.
“After last year’s very small crop (about 16 million boxes), 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 Portland-based Pear Bureau Northwest.
The Pear Bureau produced the Aug. 1 crop estimate for pears grown in Washington and Oregon, which account for 88 percent of the U.S. commercial pear crop.
Pear growers in the Wenatchee and Yakima districts and Oregon’s Mid-Columbia and Medford districts, estimate the crop will be 444,400 tons, or 20.2 million standard box equivalents.
The Wenatchee district is expected to produce the largest share of Anjou (5.3 million boxes) and Bartletts (2.5 million boxes) and runs a close second on Bosc (1 million boxes).
Picking has begun throughout the four growing regions of the Northwest and will continue throughout August and September. Pick dates are roughly a week earlier than last season, staying close to the historical average.
Starkrimson harvest has begun in most districts, with Bartlett picking starting this week. Later in the month, harvest of Comice, Bosc, Forelle and Seckel will begin with Anjou harvest starting in September.
The current crop estimates for this season are:
Green Anjou: 9.9 million standard boxes (49.2 percent of total Northwest fresh pear crop).
Bartletts: 5.3 million boxes (26 percent).
Bosc: 3.2 million boxes (15.7 percent).
Red Anjou: 1 million boxes (5.1 percent).
About 2 million boxes of organic pears are expected, which would make up 10 percent of the total northwest crop.
Green Anjou: 753,250 boxes.
Bartlett: 698,350 boxes.
Bosc: 384,100 boxes.
