ISHS Acta Horticulturae 367: VI International Symposium on Pear Growing
OPENING ADDRESS |
| Author: | S. Sansavini |
| Abstract:
It is with great pleasure that I extend to you the greetings of the ISHS Fruit Section at 6th International Pear Symposium. Oregon is once again host to our distinguished gathering, having been the venue of the Third Pear Symposium convened twelve years ago at Corvallis by Porter Lombard. I note that participation and enthusiasm have grown a great deal since then. It is only fitting that our thanks go to Dr. David Sugar, who convened this Symposium, which is being attended by over 130 people from 18 countries who will present more than fifty papers and posters at Ashland. This forum will have a great deal to offer on the emerging trends in both basic research and field management in the United States and in the other leading pear countries. Pear is a relatively static crop because of its somewhat limited consumer demand and well-defined growing areas. The pear industry operates in a wealthy yet saturated international market based mainly in Western Europe and North America, although it has begun to look with increasing interest at Asian pears. By contrast, the vast and rich Asian markets favor the Nashi, which command surprisingly high prices - even 5–6 fold higher in Tokyo than in Europe. Indeed, the Asian pears are found in China in widely diverse range of species and genotypes linked to native germplasm. Other important producers of european pears are Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, although these countries seem to be more concerned about exporting than promoting demand in their domestic markets. Pear is a fruit that, despite its delicious flavor when fully ripe and properly stored, is not readily manipulated. Besides, it cannot be mechanically harvested, must be resistant or tolerant to fire blight and decline and well protected against black spot, scab and Psylla. Pear also has limited storage life, and many retailers and even more consumers are ill informed of its ripening process. All of these factors combine to make quality the necessary condition of pear's continued ability to compete in the marketplace and win the confidence of consumers. The pear is in this sense definitely at a disadvantage with respect to apple, although it can boast of rising orchard densities and yields, which cut overhead and unit costs while accelerating return on investment, that have been achieved through new genotypes, clonal rootstocks, integrated fruit production techniques and harvesting for quality and storage life. In order to guide and orient this enormous leap of quality in the world pear industry the ISHS actively supports its Pear Working Group, which is headed by Dr. Manuel Carrera, who has shown his dedication to this crop organizing the INIA conference at Saragosa in 1988 and will guide the choice of venue for the next one in 1997. To him we owe a debt of gratitude for all his work on behalf of the pear working group and can only hope that its members will increase and join the ISHS. Let me conclude my remarks by recommending to Dr.
Sugar that the Symposium proceedings be speedily published in the Acta Horticulturae and that the papers receive a full review by him or an editorial board to assure a top quality issue.
Let me thank on the behalf of everyone the Organizing Committee for a job well done, all those who will be taking care of us at Ashland and on the professional tour to Corvallis and the Hood Valley, and wish all a very successful symposium. | |
