OLYMPIA, Wash. (RFD-TV) — While farmers work to bring in this year’s haul, pear growers in the Pacific Northwest are enjoying a much better season this year.
Estimates show this year’s pear crop could see a 60-percent jump over last year, which was hit by freezing temperatures early on, but this year, they are dealing with production issues.
A lot of pear growers send their crops out for canning, but consumers in recent years have shied away from canned fruit, reaching instead for fresh products.
The Washington Tree Fruit Association says this is not surprising and notes the USDA has offered a lifeline to growers while they transition away from the cannery market.
“They have resources available to help cushion market shocks like that, and they did commit $20 million to do additional canned and fresh pear purchases, which will help smooth out that transition as some growers may pivot away from having as much of their fruit planned for the cannery market.”
Washington State is the nation’s largest pear producer by volume. There is deep history there, too, with some orchards dating back more than a century.
“Those could’ve easily been our beans going over there. It goes to show that if that opportunity is there, China would be willing to buy.”
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