Counting backwards: 2022, 2021 and 2020
to show just how vastly different one harvest can be from one year to the next.
2022:
Our next harvest has started with great pear blooms bursting with promise; Hope Springs Eternal. So far, the Bartlett and Bosc pears have received from Mother Nature more than the number of “chill portions” needed for good blossoming. Our pears have a period of dormancy from late Fall though Winter, and then the rest period breaks with the formation of bursting buds and subsequent blossoming.
In our Delta area, we have fluctuations of temperatures during both Fall and Winter, with sometimes warmer periods and some times of near or actual frost. Because of this factor, the Dynamic Model from the Chilling Accumulation Models is used; the term, dynamic, referring to the often moving of temperatures here.
During the time of dormancy, we need those long periods of very cold hours below 45ºF, but several days of warmer weather during this time can cancel out some of the colder hours, resulting in a too-early bloom or partial bloom.
So, our consultants use the term “chill portions” which are units calculated using the number of hours of temperature ~35-55ºF, from September 1 of the year. More on this for you math maniacs at the University of California Fruit and Nut Research & Information Center, here.
2021:
River Pear Orchards had a crazy-good harvest last year. Our harvest of both Bartletts and Bosc pears were plentiful, size of pears were good, and we were happy with Del Monte and how they received our pears.
2020:
It was the year of wiping down groceries, heavy mask wearing, and a strange year here on the orchards! We had two wonky times of bloom coming out—not good. The lockdown made it difficult for harvesting to start on time, and the delay in picking resulted in a difficult market for us. Thank goodness for crop insurance!
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