Pacific Northwest apple and pear exports to Europe have dropped dramatically since pesticide ­regulations were harmonized among members of the European Union. Restrictive pesticide residue limits of the European Union have required U.S. producers to adopt chemical use practices and compliance systems unique to the EU market, and that’s cut into exports, says a Pacific Northwest tree fruit industry spokes­person. In the last six years, apple exports from the Northwest have declined from more than 1.35 million to around 500,000 boxes, a drop of 60 percent, and pears went from around 300,000 to less than 145,000 boxes, a decline of […]