06/22/05 First pear crop projections

Although final projections won't be available until August, the Northwest pear industry recently got an idea on the size and shape of the 2005-2006 crop. Pear Bureau Northwest's Kevin Moffitt released the preliminary estimate during this month's Annual and Regulatory meetings in Portland. MOFFITT: This coming season's initial crop estimate is eight per cent from this past season, and three per cent over the five year average, very similar in size to the 2003-2004 crop. So in other words, the winter crop for Washington and Oregon should be close to 14.8 million boxes, boxes equivalent to forty-four pounds. And that is good news in that the 2005  2006 crop is a rebound from this current season's crop. MOFFITT: This past season's U.S.A. Pear crop while down eight per cent compared to the previous year was only three per cent off the five year average. The numbers are boosted by annual increases in five year averages in varieties such as Bartlett, Bosc, and Red Anjou. MOFFITT: Red Anjou continues to increase, rising 143 per cent since 1999. The Red Anjou crop is setting new records each season, with no signs of leveling off. And Moffitt adds growers should greatly benefit from lower than average production in California pear and stone fruit this year, giving Northwest pear varieties more shelf-time with retailers, and Pear Bureau Northwest an earlier start in the pear promotion season.