Cold spring weather has hurt crop volume for Hood River, Ore.-based Duckwall Fruit, says Ed Weathers, sales manager.
“The spring of 2022 was extremely wet and cold and has adversely impacted our crop volumes,” Weathers said. “We expect our crop to be reduced by as much as 20%.” The smaller crop, combined with supply chain challenges for offshore shipments, will lend a focus to North American sales over exports, he said.
The expectation is for more moderate fruit sizing, but an extended growing season may provide average sizing. In any case, Weathers said Duckwall Fruit has seen steady growth in bag sales at retail.
“We have no reason to believe that won’t continue for the 2022-2023 crop,” he said.
Summer pear harvest of bartlett and starkrimson began Aug. 23, while anjou pears should follow around Sept. 12, with bosc, red anjou and other varieties shortly after, he said.
Duckwall Fruit Co. was established 1919 in Odell, Ore. The marketer’s pears, all conventional fruit, come primarily from Hood River County, known as the Mid-Columbia region.
Duckwall ships about 2.5 million 44-pound-equivalent cartons per year, Weathers said.
The company’s top varieties in volume are anjou, bartlett, bosc and red anjou. Smaller-volume varieties such as starkrimson, comice, forelle, packham and seckel represent less than 10% of the company’s total offerings.
Challenges for growers include escalating costs.
“Labor shortages, skyrocketing fuel costs, as well as fertilizer, irrigation and equipment, are extremely concerning,” Weathers said. “While we have seen improved market pricing over the last few years, all the gains are being stripped away by the escalation of growing, packing and shipping costs.”
