Now that the campaign has come to an end in the area of La Rioja, it is time to take stock. Conference pears are mainly cultivated in three parts of the country: La Rioja, which has a Designation of Origin, Lleida, and Aragon. These last two origins "have had two slightly difficult years in a row, because the weather conditions have not helped them," states Ricardo Pisón, of Frutas Pisón. However, this Riojan company has managed to increase its commercial activity, managing to fairly meet the demand from its regular customers. "Obviously, the PDO helps us promote ourselves in the rest of the Peninsula."
This past campaign, Frutas Pisón has marketed around 4,000 kilos of Conference pears, which were distributed by the country's main markets, such as Mercabarna, Mercamadrid and Mercabilbao. "The volume produced in this area has remained more or less stable in recent years," explains Pisón. And it should also be added that prices do not undergo major changes throughout the campaign. "It's difficult to talk about actual figures, because there are about 10 Conference pear calibres, and in the last two months of the campaign, prices historically tend to be either very good or very bad."
Other producing countries that can affect the Spanish market are the Netherlands and Belgium. "Their production volume per square metre is much higher than in La Rioja," explains Pisón, and this, added to the fact that the climate prevents certain diseases from affecting the trees, thus leading to savings in possibly necessary treatments, allows them to sell the fruit at much more competitive prices.
For more information:
Ricardo Pisón
Frutas Pisón
Tel. +34 679 98 28 20