Pear harvest impacts from Almeda Fire

Pear harvest impacts from Almeda Fire

A family business in talent is getting back to work after the almeda fire.

Newswatch 12's samantha didion spoke with the owner of meyer orchards to hear how his business was affected by the fire.

Samantha you're joining us now live from talent.

What did you learn from that farmer today?

I'm here at meyer orchard -- where the fruit is still being harvested.

The family tells me that while the fire didn't reach their farm, their business is still feeling the impacts.

Ron meyer says: "many of the people who work in the packing shed lost their homes.

And of course they didn't work for days because they were trying to establish new residence."

Ron meyer is the owner of meyer orchards.

He says the fire delayed harvest and caused a shortage of workersmostly on the packing end but also in the fields.

Evacuation orders also caused a delay in work.

Some employees live on the orchards.

When water and power were not available in the area, meyer said he had buy water for everyone.

He said the fire is going to force them to extend the season, even while using every available employee.

Luckily, the fire didn't make it to meyer orchards ... but the smoke and wind did.

Ron meyer says: "i don't believe that the smoke affects the pears at all, no.

We had this several years back and we saw no difference."

Instead, his main concern is the wind he saw the day of the fire that blew off many of the pears.

Meyers says they had a light crop to begin with this year and after the winds came through he had about half the harvest this year compared to previous years.

Meyer said that he is trying to decide if there will be a season next year or not but he is hopeful there will be.

Ron meyer says: "after a family's history of 110 years being in this business its not easy to change."

Meyer says that this orchard sits on 115 acres and the last option would be to cut back