It’s a fact that the Belgian top fruit sector was hit hard by the cold. However, there’s a difference in damage between apples and pears. “Almost everything froze in apples, and a frozen bloom means there will definitely not be a fruit. It’s somewhat different for the pears, which we know from experience. Pears were a bit further along in the process, and most trees had already stopped flowering. All of the small pears were frozen, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any pears,” Kris Wouters explains.
Apples
Wouters Fruithandel has an area of 60 hectares. Kris indicates he doesn’t expect much anymore from apples. “We have several plots, including at high altitudes, but it was also freezing there. If we were to harvest 20 per cent of what we normally harvest during the new season, it would almost be a miracle. The things I heard from colleagues indicate very few Jonagold apples will be harvested. Golden appears to not be affected as much, but these are only assumptions for now, of course.”
The pears are black on the inside.
Pears
According to him, we can only draw conclusions about pears a couple of weeks from now. “A rough estimate right now is there will be 20 per cent less than last season, because they still have time to recover. However, for that we need good weather. Unfortunately, we will still have a few nights of frost this week, and daytime temperatures will be far too low. We will therefore have to wait and see what’ll happen with pears.”
The Netherlands
Kris indicates that the frost damage is comparable to that of 1991. “That was also a very difficult year when we lost a lot. We have been hit much harder than the Netherlands this time. The advantage there is that most growers can irrigate, we hardly have that luxury here. Irrigation is also the best way to protect the tree from frost. All those other options with fire and blowers: it is no longer effective at certain temperatures.”
Higher prices?
Will the apple prices rise a lot because of this next season? “We cannot say anything about that yet. In 1991, the apples were terribly expensive. Much also depends on Poland. Reports from this country are not yet very clear. They’ve also had frost, but the apple trees were in an earlier stage. The first reports indicate that damages aren’t too bad there. If they have a lot of fruit, it could mean prices wouldn’t be too high.”
No conclusions yet
Many companies in the fruit sector were already struggling. Will this be the deathblow for certain producers? “It's another blow and it may mean the end for some. However, we still have to wait for the pears, and we should stay positive. Some good things might come of it. The pears could possibly save the fruit growers during the new season!”For more information:
Wouters Fruithandel
Kris Wouters
Kasteellaan 21
3454 Rummen, Belgium
Tel: +32 115 861 90
Fax: +32 115 810 41
www.woutersfruit.be