"Hardly any price development for top fruit"

"The sold top fruit volumes remain quite level, but whether or not it will be enough remains to be seen," according to Kees Oskam, fruit exporter from trading company Jan Oskam in Vleuten, the Netherlands. "Prices remain low and there have been no developments. If we don't continue to clear the apples, we run the risk that we will, once again be stuck with leftover stocks."

 

"The decreasing value of the Euro has been to our benefit in some respects, particularly influencing export to the UK and China. The value of the roebel in Russia is crashing at even harder rate, despite this, the necessary trade will still find its way. All of these factors are complicating trade," says Kees. "The market seemed to be looking up in October, but certain organisations took advantage of this by artificially raising prices. This was not viable for the long term. The market continues to remain the determining factor."

The apple demand for export is very limited and the market has been dictated by Poland. The Netherlands and Belgium lead the way in pears and the demand is relatively broad. Trade in France and the United Kingdom has been trailing off, Eastern Europe continues to trade, along with the Baltic states and Scandinavia. If it will all be enough will become apparent in the new year," says Kees. "One advantage is that the quality of the top fruit has been excellent. The balance between the price and quality is great and the consumers have absolutely not been disappointed."