Oregon's pear harvest to be 3 weeks late after wet winter
“It’s a real positive when you get some early water,” said Doug Lowry of Associated Fruit in Talent. “The winter weather is good for controlling insect populations and getting trees a lot of water.”
Pear blossoms already were popping out around this time last year, but orchardist Ron Meyer expects few orchards will be adorned in white for the city’s 64th annual Pear Blossom Festival next month.
“I think it’s going to be a late season, very late,” Meyer said. “At least three weeks later than last year. But if we get 70-degree days during the coming weeks, that can change very quickly.”
With a later bloom growers don't have to worry as much about frost, which can be devastating to crops. The wet weather does have some disadvantages however, if it doesn't let up close to harvest time it can make it much more difficult to prune and work the trees.
source: registerguard.com
