Pear growers across Oregon and Washington are facing a financial crisis serious enough to push many out of the industry entirely. A combination of low retail prices, rising input costs, and a damaging pest outbreak is stripping margins down to unsustainable levels. Lesley Tamura, a fourth-generation pear grower near Hood River, is among those speaking out about the severity of the situation.
This story adds significant new detail to the ongoing Pacific Northwest pear crisis. While Ripe previously covered Oregon's disaster designation request tied to 2025 crop losses from pear psylla, heat, and thin pollination, this article focuses on the current 2026 financial pressure across both Oregon and Washington — a broader and more immediate picture of grower viability.
The domestic pear supply base is at real risk of long-term contraction if growers continue exiting. Buyers who depend on Pacific Northwest pears should watch for tightening supply over the next one to two seasons and consider how sourcing diversification or grower relationship investments might factor into their programs.