Though nationwide pear volume is slightly down this year, California growers are reporting good quality and sizing for this year's crop.“As an industry, volume might be down about 10 percent,” said David Thiesen of Stillwater Orchards in Courtland, California. That's due to unfavorable weather during this season's bloom period. But despite that slight setback, quality of remaining fruit has been good.
“Sizing is bigger than anticipated,” said Thiesen. “We've had a very clean crop with good quality.” The size of this year's fruit has been so good that smaller-sized pears have been hard to come by.
“The smaller fruit just hasn't been there,” said Thiesen. “So there might be some problems supplying the markets that want smaller pears.” Prices have been strong on the back of good demand. A light import pipeline has contributed to that demand and has made for a favorable market for domestic suppliers of pears.
National production is forecast to reach 878,500 tons this year, down eight percent from last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Picking in California started in mid-July with Bartletts and should continue into November.