The latest estimate from the US Northwest has put this season’s crop at 451,000 tonnes of pears, up 2 per cent on the five-year average, though 2 per cent lower than 2014’s crop.
A mild winter and warm spring have pushed the harvest forward five to seven days compared to 2014, and is due to kick off in late July with Starkrimson and Bartlett pears to be harvested in early August, with Green Anjou pears estimated to account for 54 per cent of the crop.
“This year’s projection, while down from the last two years, still predicts a solid, manageable pear crop with promotable quantities for both the domestic and export markets.” Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of marketing body Pear Bureau Northwest, said in a company statement. “With excellent quality and sizing expected, the Pear Bureau marketing team already has advertising and promotion plans in place to continue to increase pear consumption worldwide.”
Pear Bureau Northwest is already in the midst of planning promotional activities for the region's pears, both in the US and overseas, with fourteen international marketing representatives to coordinate USA Pears promotions across 36 countries.
The focus for the 2015/16 season will be the industry's major export markets including Canada, Mexico and United Arab Emirates, with the Pear Bureau preparing for potential promotional activities for USA Pears to be reintroduced to Russia if the market is reopened this season.
China and India, two markets that are seeing strong growth in demand for USA Pears, will also be targeted with promotional activities, with the Pear Bureau to introduce new social media activities in both countries. Chinese New Year will also be a focal point for promotions following the success of USA Pears' 'God of Wealth' campaign that ran at supermarkets in Shanghai in the lead up to the Lunar New Year earlier in the year.
The crop projection was made during the Northwest pear growers’ annual meeting in Portland, Oregon, last week.
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