Press Release

June 15, 2004

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Peggy Miars
(831) 423-2263, ext. 12
peggy@ccof.org

Lake County Pear Producers Move Toward Organic Production

Santa Cruz, CA (June 15, 2004) - "Going organic" may save the family farm. Or so believes at least one California farmer. Lake County has historically been the "pear capital of the world," according to local lore. But recent competition from foreign and domestic producers has driven Lake County mountain pear prices into the ground.

Lake County grower Lars Crail, whose orchard next month will achieve USDA organic certification through California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), claims the organic pear is the solution to his family's woes. "The organic pear is our doorway to the future," said Crail. He hopes California pear producers, by converting their orchards to organic production, can work together to sustain a large-scale organic industry capable of research, promotion and supply sufficient to meet the growing market's demands.

Among supporters of the organic movement is Lake County's Board of Supervisors. County administrator Kelly Cox has, under the board's direction, allocated $30,000 to a three-year economic development program that specifically assists organic market research and development. Crail credits University of California cooperative extension farm advisor Rachel Elkins with providing expertise and oversight to the program. "She's been terrific in searching for solutions in the California pear industry," said Crail.

The Lake County pear industry began losing market share with development of the Sacramento delta area pear orchards, whose fruit increased supply annually two weeks before the Lake County crop was ready for harvest. Sacramento area pears come on the market earlier than Lake County because of the region's earlier bloom and harvest. This means that Lake County non-organic producers are unable to achieve sustainable pricing for their pears because the supply of fresh fruit increases and prices decrease as the season progresses.

Both California regions then took a financial hit when orchards planted in the northwestern states of Washington and Oregon came into production following a blip in the apple industry.

But in 1996, California received a boost from a big freeze which destroyed the pear crops in the northwestern United States, creating an increase in demand for Lake County pears. For a period of two years, the California pear producers experienced high demand, and sales of their pears increased. Unfortunately, this success was short lived. Just as Crail ended his accounting career and began his involvement in farming by taking over his wife's pear operation with the birth of their first son, the industry headed into a steep dive.

Several factors then came together to ring what sounded like the death bell for the California industry. First, the Northwest pear industry grew much larger when it recovered in 1998-99 from prior years' freezes. The Northwest regained most of the fresh pear market. This coincided with a high incidence of the fungus known as "scab" in Lake County, which damaged the local crops. This disease attacks the leaves, fruits, and young twigs of pears in the orchard. It distorts the shape of the fruit and makes them difficult to sell in the fresh and cannery markets. Then came free trade. The global supply of apples and pears created reduced consumption of North American apples and pears in general.

All of these factors have caused producers from Lake County, like Crail, to realize they need a new product to become more competitive and marketable. Crail began to look toward organic production in a bid to add new value to his product and increase the competitiveness of his business. Crail, who said he has long supported organic production, believes that the "sweeter taste of California pears" (higher sugar percentage) and the "steady growth in the demand for organic food" will both be factors in the success of this industry.

Crail's fruit is available exclusively through CCOF certified Mt. Konocti Growers' Co-op in Kelseyville. (707) 279-4213. Contact Joe Gabriel, CF Fresh sales office, at (541) 687-9535.

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About CCOF
CCOF, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 1973 and is one of the nation's largest and oldest third-party organic certifying agencies. CCOF's purpose is to promote and support organic agriculture in California and elsewhere through:
o A premier organic certification program for growers, processors, handlers, and retailers.
o Programs to increase awareness of and demand for certified organic product and to expand public support for organic agriculture.
o Advocacy for governmental policies that protect and encourage organic agriculture.