This year's California pear season got off to an early start, and shippers are enjoying strong prices during the first part of the season. With the Pacific Northwest pear harvest still several weeks away, California's growers are taking advantage of this period when they are the main source of fresh pears in North America.
“We started our Bartlett pack from the Sacramento Delta on July 7, which was a few days earlier than what would be considered normal,” said David Thiessen with Scully Packing in Finley, California. “The early season was due to an early bloom and warm spring.”
Estimates put this year's crop at 2.5 million 36-pound cartons, and the majority of that is expected to come from Bartlett production, which is virtually unchanged from the previous season. Bosc production, however, is expected to be down slightly because of weather during bloom and the nature of it being an alternate bearing crop.
“Quality this season is good,” noted Thiessen. “Depending on the harvest region, some pears have slightly more lenticel russet than last year. However, sugar and eating quality is excellent.” While sizing on Bartletts from the Sacramento Delta region has been in line with sizing from previous years, Thiessen believes sizes from mountain districts, which are just ramping up production, could be larger because of smaller crops.
With the only fresh pears available right now, California's shippers can take advantage of a good market. Fresh pears from the Pacific Northwest won't be on the market for several weeks, and demand for California fruit, in the meantime, is strong. On July 27, prices for a 36-pound carton of Bartlett Ones were between $24.00 and $25.00 on size 80 fruit.
“The market has been slightly higher than last year as a result of the empty pipeline at the start of our season,” said Thiessen. “Demand for fresh California pears is high when the only other pears on the shelves are from offshore or long term storage. This market will remain steady until the Northwest joins the party with significant volume.”
