Ladybugs, though popular, were surprising underachievers in pear orchards. Of the 38 collected, only 17% had spider mite DNA ...

as the pear grows, "it gets this rust-colored ring called a russet … It’s a cosmetic issue.” While he noted that people should expect to see more of this rust ring, it does not affect the taste.

The crop in the Wenatchee area was the hardest hit. “After the freeze, as the pear grows, it gets this rust-colored ring called a russet,” Morris explained. “It’s a cosmetic issue.” ...