The rest of the pear harvest should be completed by week's end, with pears like this one in Don and Margaret Eutenier's Kelseyville orchard soon to make their way to area packing houses. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

KELSEYVILLE – Lake County's pear harvest is wrapping up this week, as growers bring the last of their crop in from the orchards.

The state's pear season began early in July, with the River District – which includes Sacramento, San Joaquin, Yolo, Yuba and Sutter counties – harvested first, said Chris Zanobini, executive director of the California Pear Advisory Board.

Lake and Mendocino counties, which are known as the “Mountain District,” follow the River District by several weeks, he said.

Zanobini said Lake harvests the last of any pear-growing area. “They definitely save the best for last,” he said, adding that the fresh market fruit with the most consistent and best quality comes from Lake County.

This year, the state is expected to produce 186,000 tons of pears, said Zanobini, which is down from 205,000 tons last year.

That's largely due to a severe freeze that hit in late April. While areas in the Sacramento Valley also were affected, Zanobini said it was the worst in Lake. “Lake County took the brunt of that, there's no doubt about it.”

The River District is estimated to produce 132,000 tons, with Lake and Mendocino counties bringing in 54,000 tons, Zanobini said.

Despite the April frost, fruit quality is looking good, said Zanobini.

Rachel Elkins, University of California Cooperative Extension pomology advisor for Lake and Mendocino counties, agrees with Zanobini on the fruit quality, saying the fruit has excellent sugar content.

Although the jury is still out whether or not tonnage will be down much – estimates earlier this year had suggested as high as a 40-percent loss – Elkins said the crop this year is characterized by larger fruit size, which can help make up for any quantity loss.

There are, however, some orchards that won't be picked at all because of frost damage, said Elkins.

There also are concerns about canneries cutting back on fruit purchases, said Elkins. That's particularly difficult in a year when a lot of the fruit has markings that make it less desirable for the fresh market but perfect for canning.

She said she expects harvest to finish up by the end of this week. With the fruit ripening at a rapid pace, it's critical to get it off the trees.

The picking itself has gone smoothly this year, said Elkins, with no serious labor issues – such as those which left tons of pears unpicked in 2006.

Meanwhile, efforts are under way to promote the local pear industry, which has dwindled to two packing houses and smaller acreage due to farming and economic challenges.

Earlier this month, the Board of Supervisors approved a contract between the county and the Lake County Pear Association.

The contract provides $10,000 to complete two versions of a video that promotes Lake County's pear industry, and also supports placing advertisements promoting locally grown pears in trade publications.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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