Governor Tina Kotek signed a letter Thursday to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture requesting a disaster designation for pear growers in Hood River and Wasco counties, as well as contiguous counties affected by severe crop losses in 2025.

The losses are estimated at $40 million to $45 million, with grower revenue reduced by roughly 50%.

Growers attributed the damage to the worst pear psylla infestation reported in nearly half a century. Pear psylla is a sap-sucking insect that in 2025 coated trees and fruit in honeydew, leading to black sooty mold and leaving many pears unmarketable.

Those conditions were compounded by excessive summer heat, limited snowpack and constrained irrigation supply.

Kotek’s letter asks the USDA to make emergency credit available through a disaster designation and to pursue additional market relief where possible. That includes support through the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program, USDA purchases of Northwest pears, and other disaster relief or market stabilization tools.

“A disaster designation will not solve every challenge facing growers, but it can put critical federal recovery tools within reach,” Kotek said in a statement.

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In April, Lesley Tamura, board chair of Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers, described the financial strain on producers.

“We want to do this work but it’s just getting harder and harder to survive,” Tamura said.

She also cited market conditions that compounded the losses.

“It was a really big crop year, which when you have high supply it tends to lead to lower demand. We don’t have the market access to exports and when it comes to the domestic pear supply, people only eat so many pears,” Tamura said.

Oregon is the second-largest pear producer in the country.

Source - https://www.kptv.com