"Pear export good, apple sales mainly focused on domestic market"

Top fruit sales on the domestic market are doing very well, "As often happens in January, there are many promotions going on for both apples and pears. The export of apples is not easy, but the export of pears is beginning to pick up. Before New Year's it was more quiet," says Zweer van Aalsburg from FruitMasters.

"Export to distant destinations is doing well, but most European countries are fairly self-sufficient when it comes to apples, and there is little movement there. We prefer to export more fruit. But overall we are not completely dissatisfied. The market for industry fruit is doing well, with a slight increase in prices. In terms of apples, Elstar has the highest price, selling for 50-65 cents. Kanzi sales are also doing well. The Jonagold and Junami apples are usually more active in the second half of the season. The quality of the apples is inconsistent, especially with the apples that were picked the latest."

"The price for Conference pears is 45-50 cents for the smaller sizes and 55-60 cents for the larger sizes. Export is significantly increasing. Poland is becoming active in the Conference pear market. The export to China is beginning to increase after a slow period. The Doyenné du Comice and Beurre Alexander Lucas pears are selling well. I expect the Comice and Lucas pears to be finished at the end of February, and then we will only have the Conference pears left," says Zweer. The commercial manager is also satisfied with the sales of the Migo pear, "We had only 200 tons this season, but this volume will increase rapidly in the coming years."

"Overall, we would have liked to have seen smoother sales and better prices. Of course, we had to deal with a shorter sales season because the harvest happened four weeks later. The Elstar stocks are ahead of last year, and the rest of the varieties are at the same level as last year. The advantage is that less imported pears are arriving and that the sizes are small. This offers more sales opportunities for the Conference pears. The first imported apples were also smaller in size and that offers more opportunities for the Dutch apples. I expect the German market to pick up in terms of apple sales in the beginning of April," says Zweer.

For more information:
Zweer van Aalsburg
Fruitmasters
Deilseweg 7
Postbus 222
4190 CE Geldermalsen
Tel: 0345 578 808
www.fruitmastersholland.nl