Washington and Oregon pear shipments will be down only slightly when the new season arrives….Meanwhile Imported New Zealand apples are arriving at American ports.
2017 pear shipments from Washington and Oregon should total 17.6 million boxes, 2 percent less than in 2016 and 10 percent less than the five-year average, according to the first industry estimate for the season.
The forecast was compiled at the June 1 annual Pear Bureau Northwest meeting.
“Growers are reporting an excellent quality of pear crop on the trees, albeit a bit shorter crop than last season,” Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest, said in a news release. “At nearly 18 million boxes, we expect a high-quality crop in promotable numbers.”
Starkrimson pears are expected in early August with bartlett harvest expected in late August. Meanwhile, anjou, bosc and comice will be harvested from September through early October.
Concorde, forelle, and seckel will be picked in September and October.
By variety, the industry estimates are:
- 8.9 million boxes of green anjous, about 51 percent of total Northwest fresh pear crop and up 7 percent from 2016;
- 4.4 million boxes of bartletts (25 percent of the total crop), down 4 percent from 2016 and 2 percent off the five-year average;
- 2.2 million boxes of boscs (13 percent of the total crop).
- 1.1 million boxes of red anjous (6 percent of the crop), 10 percent higher than 2016.
The organic pear estimate for 2017 is pegged at 1.12 million standard boxes, which is 6.4 percent of the total Northwest crop. That’s 5.5 percent lower than a year ago but 10.5 percent above the five-year average.
The organic green anjou crop is estimated at 470,000 boxes, with organic bartletts at 377,800 boxes and organic bosc at 123,200 boxes.
Yakima Valley apples and pears – grossing about $5000 to Philly.
New Zealand Apple Imports
New Zealand’s apple season is well underway, and high-quality fruit is arriving at U.S. ports. The 22 million carton crop is now estimated at 19.5 million. Some of the major importers in North American are Oppenheimer, Vancouver, BC; and Giumarra Fruit Co. Inc., Los Angeles.