California pear crop for 2015 anticipated at 170,197 tons
California pear crop for 2015 anticipated at 170,197 tons
Volume estimates released by the California Pear Advisory Board on June 12 show that the state’s fresh pear volume is expected to be down when compared to the last crop year. According to the report, California fresh pear producers are expected to move approximately 2.894 million 36-pound boxes this season, a decrease of 6 percent compared to 2014.
The total 2015 California pear crop was set at 170,197 tons. Of this total, 118,100 tons are expected to be utilized by canneries.
A breakdown of pear varieties and difference from the 2014 crop year is as follows.
Bartlett: 2.3 million boxes, down 8 percent; Bosc: 422,060 boxes, up 7 percent; Starkrimson: 76,800 boxes, down 4 percent; Comice: 16,000 boxes, down 10 percent; other reds: 33,250 boxes, up 9 percent; Seckel: 5,250 boxes, up 12 percent; Sunsprites: 24,000 boxes, down 7 percent; Forelle: 7,700 boxes, up 55 percent; French Butter: 5,190 boxes, up 85 percent; and other pears, 4,000 boxes, down 38 percent.
According to the board, the earliest harvest date for Bartletts, which will account for 110,000 tons of the total California pear crop, was July 7, with later production commencing on Aug. 4 and Aug. 11.
Combining estimates from California and the Pacific Northwest, the overall U.S. fresh pear supply on the West Coast is predicted to be 2 percent lower than last year. Combined production of fresh Bartletts is 7 percent below last year.