Leopard moth larva on the mined trunk of a young pear tree. With about 12,000 hectares (almost 30,000 acres) of pears and average annual production of about 130,000 metric tons, Portugal ranks last among the top 18 pear-producing countries worldwide. Nonetheless, pears make up about 12 percent of a very diversified fresh fruit industry, which includes a range of crops from citrus and figs to temperate deciduous fruits. The pear industry of Portugal is made up of many small growers and a few larger growers. The average pear orchard is two hectares, but 80 percent of the total pear production […]