More on 2014 Pear Crop

More on 2014 Pear Crop

More On 2014 Pear Crop. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report.

Last year was a record year for pears and this year will be good but nowhere near last years totals. Varieties have not changed much in recent years either. Kevin Moffitt, Pear Bureau Northwest says three varieties, Barlett, Anjou and Bosc make up about 80 to 90% of pears sold.

MOFFITT: More people, as they discover pears, they're moving from just purchasing Bartlett's. Bartlett's are the most familiar to most people. It has that beautiful pear shape and that aroma people associate with pears. So as they're learning more about pears and how to ripen other varieties like Anjou, they will be purchasing Anjou and Bosc and even some of the Seckel, Forelle, Comice; that type of specialty variety as well.

The recent Russian ban on U.S. ag products will have an affect on the pear market.

MOFFITT: Russia has become one of our top destinations for exported pears. It was our third largest export market last season. Mexico is number one. Canada number two and So we shipped about half a million boxes Russia last year. I believe it was worth about $11 or $12-million dollars. So from a percentage of crop standpoint, pear growers will feel it more than some of the other crops.

But Moffitt says there is good news.

MOFFITT: Again with our crop being over a million boxes less than last year, we won't feel the pinch like we would have if we had a record crop. So that half million boxes could be made up just in the crops shortfall.

That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.

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