Despite a late start to the season, French pear prices are +20% above the 2013-2017 average. It is the third year in a row that prices have increased, last year they were already 12% above the five year average.
Pears are showing a serious commercial deficit in France with almost 103,000 tons imported and only 12,000 tons exported. However, this year it is the demand in Northern Europe that is decreasing prices. The low Guyot pear volume allows for a market balance and supermarkets can have a positive effect on national demand by displaying the pears well on the shelves.
Despite hail and average weather conditions during flowering and the heatwave, pear production should remain at the same levels as last year. Almost 20,000 tons should be harvested from the Rhone-Alpes region. Guyot harvest has ended and Williams is underway. The PACA region is the main pear region nationally but is expected to see a 2% decrease compared to 2017 to 56,000 tons.