Domex Superfresh Growers anticipates a good pear season with quality product and strong marketing opportunities. “Our pear crop looks terrific,” Marketing and Communications Manager Loren Queen told The Produce News July 27. “We are excited about the opportunities this crop will bring. From a sizing standpoint, it’s in line with the historic average. But with regard to grading, it’s much better than last year. We expect to see a larger percentage of the crop being a U.S. No. 1 grade. In fact, we probably won’t pack much, if any, third grade this year.”

A recent hail storm is expected to reduce overall pear volume for Stemilt Growers Inc., located in Wenatchee, WA. “We have experienced a hail event in the state that will reduce the crop in some orchards,” Director of Marketing Roger Pepperl told The Produce News July 26. “Stemilt fared pretty well. But we all will lose some crop due to the hail.”

Pacificpro Inc. anticipates a recent hail storm to affect its 2012-13 pear volume from the Pacific Northwest. “We did expect a crop size in line with last year,” said Vice President Randy Hartmann. “However, one unknown at this point is that we did have some hail in various growing regions last week and do anticipate some shrink in the projected crop size due to this damage. But the extent is unknown at this point. Some minor damage could cure out as fruit continues to grow.”

Green Tree International, headquartered in Visalia, CA, with a brokerage office in Wenatchee, WA, has already begun marketing fresh potatoes from eastern Washington. “Everyone has been on schedule,” Sales Associate Braden Hosking told The Produce News July 30. “Things are on track.” Overall, he expects volume for 2012 to be similar to recent years.

When a Peruvian grower harvests an asparagus crop, he or she can either send it to the fresh market or the processor. It’s the same crop, but the decision typically is based on timing and the price.

But from the other end of the spectrum, it is an entirely different animal.

Last August, a Harvest Sensations executive discussed the Peruvian asparagus situation with an editor from The Produce News on the day that the stock market dropped more than 600 points. That 600-point drop was on the heels of two other days within the same week that registered losses of 500-plus points and was brought on by the downgrading of the U.S. bond rating. The Dow Jones Averages stood at under 10,800.