Pear
Pyrus communis
Pears (Pyrus communis) are perennial tree fruits suitable for Zones 4-9, with main varieties Bartlett and Bosc grown commercially. Trees require moderate chill hours and are susceptible to fire blight; high-density planting improves early yields per Cornell research.
Crop Snowflake Score
/acre
/acre
/acre
years
Overview
Growing Season
- Plant
- Early spring (dormant) – Early spring (dormant)
- Harvest
- Late August - October (variety dependent) – Late August - October (variety dependent)
- Frost-free days
- 150+
Yield
- Typical yield
- 168 bushels/acre
- Productive lifespan
- 20 years
- Years to full prod.
- 5
- Labor
- 69 hrs/acre
Market Fit
Active Regional Buyers
Established crop with known regional buyers
Price Trend Stable/Up
Price stable over past 3 years
Supply Below Demand
Regional supply roughly balanced with demand
Multiple Buyer Channels
Multiple market channels: wholesale, retail, processing, and/or direct
Value-Added Potential
Strong value-added potential through processing, direct sales, or specialty products
Market Growth Projected
Stable market outlook
Market Channels
Climate Fit
Hardiness Zone Match
Region's hardiness zone within crop range (4.0-9.0)
GDD Sufficient
GDD data not specified; crop is documented as viable at the regional hardiness zone
Precipitation Compatible
Regional precipitation (~40 in/yr) compatible with crop needs
Frost-Free Season OK
Frost-free season (160 days) meets crop requirement (150 days)
Chill Hours Met
Regional chill hours (1100) meet crop requirement (600+)
Climate Trend Favorable
Climate projections remain favorable for this crop in the region
Soil Compatibility
Soil Texture
Drainage
Infrastructure Fit
Equipment Compatible
Some specialized equipment needed but adaptable from existing vineyard infrastructure
Storage Available
Cold storage needed; may require investment
Irrigation Compatible
Irrigation beneficial; existing vineyard irrigation systems adaptable
Field Layout Suitable
Vineyard field layouts suitable for this crop
Labor Availability
High labor requirements; seasonal labor availability may be challenging
Processing Proximity
Processing/packing facilities within viable distance in WNY
Equipment Requirements
planting
Primary power unit for mowing, spraying, and orchard transport. Narrow-width (under 60 inch) models preferred for closer tree spacings.
Tractor-mounted augur or mechanical tree planter speeds establishment on blocks over 3 acres. Hand planting common on smaller acreages.
Required for high-density plantings on dwarfing rootstocks. Per-acre cost varies with spacing and post material. Many bartlett and bosc plantings remain free-standing on vigorous rootstocks.
irrigation
Per-acre cost for mainline, sub-main, emitters, filter, and controller. Essential for establishing new blocks and increasingly standard for mature orchards.
spraying
PTO-driven airblast sprayer sized for tractor horsepower and canopy volume. Tower designs improve upper-canopy coverage in dwarf plantings.
cultivation
Between-row grass management. Offset or side-discharge models improve coverage near tree rows.
Either a directed herbicide boom with shields or a mechanical Weed Badger/Wonder Weeder for under-tree weed control.
Hand pruning is the dominant cost of annual orchard labor. Pneumatic or battery-electric pruners increase worker output 2-3x.
harvesting
Per-ladder cost; most operations need one ladder per picker plus spares. Tripod design stabilizes on uneven orchard floors.
Hydraulic or flatbed trailer for moving wooden or plastic bushel bins from orchard to packing shed. Forklift-compatible configurations preferred.
Per-bin cost. Commercial orchards need one bin per 5-10 bushels of peak daily harvest plus reserves for storage and transit.
post_harvest
Mechanical cold room sized to single-harvest volume. Controlled atmosphere (CA) rooms cost 2-3x more but extend European pear storage from 3 to 7+ months.
Roller or belt grading table for visual size and defect sorting. Automated optical sorters start at $40,000+ and are used by larger packers.
Storage Requirements
Regular cold storage
Temperature
29–31°F
Humidity
90–95%
Max Storage
120 days
Controlled atmosphere
Temperature
29–31°F
Humidity
90–95%
Max Storage
240 days
Finance Fit
Revenue Above Average
Gross revenue ($356/acre) below regional average
Input Costs Acceptable
Annual operating costs ($216/acre) within typical farm budgets
Payback Period OK
Long establishment period (5 years); extended payback
Insurance Available
Federal crop insurance available
Revenue Per Labor Hour
Revenue per labor hour ($5) is below average
Grants/Subsidies
Grant and subsidy programs available (Specialty Crop Block Grant, EQIP, Beginning Farmer, etc.)
Economics Breakdown
| Avg Price/Unit | $2/per bushel |
| Gross Revenue/Acre | $356 |
| Annual Operating Cost | $216/acre |
| Establishment Cost | $10,000/acre |
| Total Input Cost | $4,800/acre |
| Net Return/Acre | $140 |
| Revenue/Labor Hour | $5 |
| Crop Insurance | Available |
| Subsidies | EQIP (orchard establishment), NAP (where MPCI not available) |
Source: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA RMA, regional budget studies (2025)
Risk Fit
Manageable Pest/Disease
Significant pest/disease pressure requiring intensive management
Market Diversified
Market access diversified across multiple channels
Low Establishment Risk
High establishment risk; significant investment and years before returns
Climate Resilient
Moderate climate resilience for the region
Regulatory Burden Low
Minimal regulatory burden for production and sale
Diversifies Portfolio
Diversifies farm revenue away from grape monoculture
Known Risks
market
Fresh pear wholesale channels are dominated by a small number of large packers and Pacific Northwest supply, compressing margins for smaller Eastern growers.
disease
Bacterial disease that blackens blossoms, shoots, and limbs; entire trees can be killed in a single season in susceptible cultivars. European pear (Pyrus communis) is highly susceptible.
Fungal disease causing olive-brown lesions on leaves and fruit; severe infection reduces fruit quality and marketability. Distinct from apple scab.
Fungal disease causing purple-black spots on leaves and fruit; can cause severe defoliation and render fruit unmarketable.
Phytoplasma disease transmitted by pear psylla; causes reduced vigor, leaf reddening, and tree death, especially on quince rootstocks.
pest
Most important pear insect pest. Nymphs produce honeydew causing sooty mold, russeting, and fruit drop. Vectors pear decline phytoplasma.
Key fruit-boring pest. Larvae tunnel into fruit, rendering it unmarketable. Multiple generations per year in warmer zones.
Weevil that lays eggs in developing fruit shortly after petal fall, causing crescent-shaped scars and premature fruit drop.
weather
Pear bloom often precedes last spring frost in many growing regions. A single freeze event at -2°C (28°F) at full bloom can eliminate the crop.
Sudden temperature drops after warm periods in late winter can injure trunks, scaffolds, and fruit buds, particularly in colder hardiness zones.
regulatory
Streptomycin use for fire blight control is under ongoing regulatory scrutiny; organic certification prohibits its use. Label restrictions have tightened.
Nutritional Yield
Nutrition data pending.
Research agents will profile Pear against USDA FoodData Central on the next maintenance pass. Per-acre nutritional yield will appear here once the per-100g panel is recorded.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem service data pending.
The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Nearby Buyers
Data Sources
Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.
Primary sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.
Economics data year: 2025 · Region: lake_erie View economics source →
48 tracked changes across 9 data categories