USA Pears is gearing up for a strong export push in the 2008/09 season, with falls in European production and the weak dollar likely to boost shipments to Europe and Russia.
With harvesting in Oregon and Washington already underway, initial estimates point to 2008 crop of 16.5m cartons, around 7 per cent smaller than the five-year average. USA Pears said the fall was due in part to unseasonably low temperatures in the spring, and to a freeze that damaged pear blossoms in some producing regions.
Pear Bureau Northwest said an expected fall of 14 per cent in the European pear crop coupled with the weak dollar, were expected to lead to a rise in exports to Europe and Russia this season. Approximately one-third of the fresh Northwest pear crop is sold outside of the US, with Mexico, Canada, Brazil and Russia topping the list of export markets.
The organisation’s marketing activities span 35 countries worldwide. International marketing representative develop and maintain promotions for USA Pears with activities tailored to each particular market.
Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest, is confident that the organisation’s marketing programmes with continue to be effective in helping to move the crop.
“Pears have regained their position at retail as one of the world’s favourite fruits,” he said. “To capitalise and expand on this we have many progressive and innovative programmes in place to grab the attention of the consumer as well as retailers and foodservice operators.”
Harvesting of Green Bartlett, Red Bartlett and other red varieties got underway in mid-August, while winter pear varieties such as Anjou, Bosc, Comice, Concorde, Forelle and Seckel are due to be picked from late August through early October. The quality of the fruit is reportedly excellent, with no weather-related issues affected the crop since the spring freeze.
While the overall crop size is below normal, certain varieties are experiencing significant growth when compared to the five-year average. The Comice crop is expected to increase by 15 per cent and Red Anjou by 11 per cent against their five-year averages. Other winter pear varieties, including Corcorde, Taylor’s Gold and Forelle are expected to increase by 38 per cent collectively.
Meanwhile organic pear production is up 30 per cent on the five-year average for summer/autumn varieties and 10 per cent for winter varieties, USA Pears said. The overall size of the organic crop is estimated to be in excess of 569,500 cartons.
Bosc pears, which have the third largest volume for all USA Pears varieties, are projected to bounce back from last season’s smaller crop with production increases of 11 per cent expected.
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