The frost that hit Europe earlier this year is leading to higher prices for apples compared to last year. “There is demand for our whole range of apples, with Granny Smiths, in particular, being in high demand”, says Agathe Munoz from Métral-fruits. Agatha works in the Export Sales Department of this French fruit trader.
“Our Gala variety is doing as well as last year”, she says. “Our red apples sales took a little while to get going. We export them but there is still produce available from countries in the Southern Hemisphere. Their prices have risen from two or three weeks ago.”
Agatha added that there is the most uncertainty around their Golden variety this season. “This product was the most impacted by frost during flowering time and then by a hailstorm.” She says the lower volumes have resulted in good demand for this variety on the European market.
“The season has not been very dynamic at the local commercial level, except in northern Europe”, she says. “Exports to the Middle east and South America are going well. We are managing to meet demand, but this is not the case for some of our colleagues who were impacted more by the frost.”
Métral-fruits market the Tentation, an apple club variety. “Sales are going well, with good demand from French supermarkets”, says Agatha. She says many growers in the Rhone Valley region are in the process of converting from traditional to organic orchards. “Many new orchards have been planted with varieties like the Story, which has been developed to be disease-resistant.”
For more information:Agathe Munoz
Métral Fruits
Tel: +33 (0)4 74 79 39 79 or +33 (0)6 30 50 64 95