Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/298602
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER MAY 1, 2014 35 Fortunately, so are our crop insurance agents. Like everyone else at Northwest Farm Credit Services, our crop insurance agents live and breathe agriculture. They're immersed in it every day. That's a tremendous advantage when you consider the nature of complex, ever-changing insurance programs. Fact is, risks abound – from adverse weather to a drop in market prices – and you need an insurance partner with expertise, knowledge and commitment, every step of the way. Give us a call today. Your only risk is waiting. nor thwestfcs.com | 800.743.2125 THE ARE GREAT PERILS Aimee Pearson Insurance Agent This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. we can from ground level and be able to sustain yields, year after year. We want to do that for worker safety issues as well as picker efficiencies." Viable industry Harry & David's Royal Riviera pears are grown for the Christmas gift season. A high percentage of the Comice pears used for gifts come from Bear Creek Orchards. But in recent years, they have introduced fruit from a few outside grow- ers into their pack as a way to keep Medford's pear industry viable. The Rogue Valley's agricultural community is at a critical point between the pear and wine grape industries, he said. Bor- man believes agricultural services like equipment and parts, chemicals, and irrigation supplies could be negatively impacted if critical size is not main- tained. The loss of any large growers in the community would be felt by all, he said. "If we can help keep the pear industry viable, it helps everybody. We don't benefit by isolating ourselves. We try to be very open and sharing with what we're doing horticulturally." Bear Creek Orchards as well as other growers in the valley have played a major role in helping fund the cash- strapped county extension service and have partnered closely with researchers from Oregon State University. Bear Creek and others have provided research funding and in-kind support and continue to work closely with university scientists from California and Washington. Borman is planting three new blocks of Comice pears, totaling 100 acres, this spring, along with another 11 acres of peaches. The company is also discussing planting wine grapes in the near future, a crop that is making inroads in the Rogue River Valley. Bear Creek Orchards has fallow ground to continue replanting Comice, but has identi- fied areas that might be better suited for vineyards. There's a possibility that Harry & David would grow their own wine grapes in the future. "It fits with the Harry & David model of controlling quality throughout the pro- cess, from growing fruit to delivering it to the customer," he said. "With everything we've learned about Comice and delivering the best quality that we can to the cus- tomer, it makes sense to grow the varieties of crops that do best in our climate." • "Harvest crews can pick 60 to 70 percent of the fruit without climbing a ladder." —Matt Borman PHOTO BY TJ MULLINAX