By Malinda Geisler, content specialist, Ag Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University.

Profile revised June 2007.


Overview
Commercial pear production is concentrated in the Northwest United States. Washington State grows nearly half of the nation’s total pear production. Total U.S. production in 2006 was 830,120 tons, valued at $324 million.

Three basic types of pears are grown in the United States. The European or French pears include popular varieties such as Bartlett, Bosc and D’Anjou. Asian pears are also known as “apple-pears” because of their apple-like texture. Oriental hybrid varieties range from gritty in texture to dessert quality.


Sources

• Economic Research Service, Briefing Room - Fruits and Tree Nuts, USDA. 
• The U.S. and World Situation: Pears, Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA - This link provides domestic pear production and trade figures using charts and graphs. 

Other Links

• Apples and Pears, Midwest Tree Fruit Pest Management Handbook, University of Kentucky.
• California Commodity Profile: Pears, Agricultural Issues Center, University of California, August 2002.
• Enterprise Budget, High-Density Pears, Oregon State University, revised January 2003 - This enterprise budget provides estimates of typical costs related to high-density pear production in North Central Oregon.
• European Pears, University of California-Davis - This site links to other pear Web sites.
• Gorge Delights Marketing New Fruit Products, Good Fruit Grower magazine, March 1, 2003 - Oregon company turns lower-grade pears into fruit bars.
• Gorge Delights--Adding Value to Pears, Ag Marketing Resource Center, January 2004 - Profile of the company that processes fruit into fresh-cut slices and is making pear nutrition bars.
• Michigan Pears, Michigan State University - This Web site provides links to other resources.
• Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts, National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. 
• Pearing Up Healthy with Handy, Cooperative Partners Online, July 20, 2001 - This story profiles how an Oregon family is adding value to a whole-pear market.
• Pear Bureau Northwest - This nonprofit marketing organization was established in 1931 to promote fresh pears grown in Oregon and Washington. Pears are distributed under the USA Pears logo.
• PlantFacts, Ohio State University - This Web site provides a full-text search engine of all extension and academic department information from all land-grant universities in the United States. Additionally, there are significant image and video databases, a FAQ database and a glossary.
• Organic Pear Production, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), April 2003 -This online guide provides information on pests, Asian pears and marketing related to organic production.
• Rasmussen Farms is located in Oregon’s Hood River Valley. Established in 1945, the farm raises several fruits and vegetables, including pears, and flowers. The operation hosts several seasonal events and sells products from its farm store and online. The farm sponsors a Pear Party one weekend in September. The party features 18 kinds of pears, along with pear desserts and products.
• Sample Costs to Produce Pears, University of California, Davis, 2003 - This study provides estimates on establishing a pear orchard in Sacramento County, California, using irrigation.
• Umpqua Organic Farm, LLC - This 30-acre farm along the Umpqua River near Roseburg, Oregon, specializes in organic Asian pears that are marketed from the farm’s Web site.
• Virginia Gold Orchard of Natural Bridge, Virginia, grows and markets certified organic Asian pears. Paul and YoungSuk Estabrook established the orchard in 1990. Together with their two children, they manage 4,000 trees from 16 different varieties. Pears are sold directly from the orchard. Online orders are taken for 10-pound gift boxes.