Orchardists in Washington and Oregon expect to harvest 20.5 million boxes of fresh pears this fall. That’s just 2 percent below last season’s crop and 2 percent above the five-year average. Harvest of Bartlett pears should begin in early August in Washington and the Mid-Columbia district, about a week ahead of last year, according to figures presented during the annual meeting of the Pear Bureau Northwest in Portland, Oregon, this week. Two years ago, growers harvested a record 21.6 million boxes of fresh pears. Kevin Moffitt, Pear Bureau president. said this is the first time in 15 years that the […]