Starr Ranch Growers looks forward to Hood River Valley pears

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Starr Ranch Growers is optimistic about its 2021 pear crop.

“Our pear production is based in the Hood River Valley,” Dan Davis, director of business. “Our partnership with Diamond Fruit helps us keep the pear market supplied well for the duration of the Northwest crop.”

Pear condition and prospects were good in the Hood River Valley, Davis said. About 8% to 10% of the company’s crop is organic, with organic green pears expanding.

“Now that we’ve begun, we are pleasantly surprised to see less effect (from the heat) on size that anticipated,” he said. 

Davis said Starr Ranch Growers continues to automate its facilities to greatest extent possible.

“Diamond continues to add palletization capacity and other automation to combat the lack of labor,” Davis said. “We’ve got to make what labor we can get as effective as possible; people continue to be our biggest asset and we’ve got to make the best possible use we can of our workforce.”

Starr Ranch Growers will also roll out the GEM pear in new packaging to expand the understanding of that new, ready-to-eat variety.
Davis said more fixed-weight packaging has been the number one trend. 

“Bags and small corrugated units have accelerated and we’re doing our best to keep pace with that demand,” Davis said.

Pear shipments from the 2021 crop are expected to continue for Starr Ranch Growers into June, Davis said.