ISHS Acta Horticulturae 800: X International Pear Symposium
STATUS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN PEAR INDUSTRY |
| Author: | E.A. Mielke |
| Keywords: | pear, Pyrus communis L., Canada, Mexico |
| Abstract:
The production area in North America has decreased approximately 12% in the last five years. Total production has decreased approximately 22% in the last ten years. 'Bartlett' production has decreased to slightly over 50% of the total crop, down from approximately 72% ten years ago. 'D'Anjou' followed by 'Bosc' and 'Comice' continue to be the most popular winter pear cultivars; however, 'Red d'Anjou' has grown the largest amount over the past ten years. The new cultivars 'Concorde' and 'Taylor's Gold' have seen some limited planting, and planting has been hampered by production problems and the reluctance of marketers in introducing new cultivars. Due to a lack of precocious dwarfing rootstocks and the reluctance of marketers to attempt to introduce new cultivars most of the pear plantings in North America are "traditional" with wide spacing, low tree density and seedling rootstocks. Due to increasing problems with labor availability, interest in competitive orchard systems utilizing post and wire supports, high density tree numbers, and mechanical aids are being explored. | |
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