Last year 25 million kilos more pears were harvested in the Netherlands compared to 2015. Most of the harvest consisted of Conference. Around 80 percent of all pears harvested came from this variety. In 2016 6.5 percent more Conference was harvested than a year before and almost 37 percent more than in 2010.
After Conference, Doyenné du Comice (31 million kilo) and the Beurré Alexandre Lucas (29 million kilo) were the most harvested pear varieties. The pear harvest was lower in 2012 due to the cold winter prior to it.
The area of pears continues to grow
Not only has the production of the pears increased, the area has also grown. Between 2010 and 2016 the area increased by 20 percent. The increase is mainly from pear provinces such as Zeeland (+29 percent) and Gelderland (+24 percent). These two provinces have the lion's share of the Dutch pear harvest: a thirds and a quarter of the area of pears can be found here respectively.
Decline in number of companies with pear production
While the production and the area of pears continues to increase, the number of fruit growers in the cultivation of pears is declining at the same time. The number of companies with pears has declined by over 20 percent between 2010 and 2016. The decrease can be seen in all provinces. The decline in provinces with relatively few companies is relatively big. More than half of all pear growers in Overijssel disappeared in this period.
While the production and the area of pears continues to increase, the number of fruit growers in the cultivation of pears is declining at the same time. The number of companies with pears has declined by over 20 percent between 2010 and 2016. The decrease can be seen in all provinces. The decline in provinces with relatively few companies is relatively big. More than half of all pear growers in Overijssel disappeared in this period.