Pear orchards are having late bloom this year

Talent, Ore., — “My grandfather started growing pears here in 1910.”

Ron Meyer runs Meyer Orchards with his family in Talent.

With more than 100 acres and five different kinds of pears, you could say he knows a lot about the fruit.

“I’ve learned in my life time in the pear business, there’s never two years exactly alike.”

The wet weather the valley has seen lately means the fruit is blooming later than normal.

“Last year in extreme reverse, it was a very early season. We’re probably a month later than last year, but we are several weeks I think later than what we would call normal.”

That doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing…
“A later season shortens the frost season so in that way it’s better.”

But the rain does put the fruit at higher risk for disease.

“Pear scab would be the real threat now with the rainy season we’ve had.”

But the late bloom means the fruit should be timed just right for the Pear Blossom Festival in April.

“Many times the blooms are finished by the time the Pear Blossom Festival is here, but that’s gonna be very close to have them compatible.”

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