California growers WORRY ABOUT FIREBLIGHT: Lack of antibiotics will limit where pears can be grown

摘要

While Washington growers are concerned about how they're going to grow organic apples and pears without antibiotics to guard against fireblight, orchardists in other parts of the country are much more worried. The generally arid conditions in the Pacific Northwest limit the threat of the disease, which needs warm and moist conditions to become established. Some areas in the Midwest and eastern United States, which have more humid weather, simply can't grow pears because of fire-blight. Some varieties are more susceptible to the disease than others, but in general pears are more susceptible than apples.