EU-28: Apple, pear production up - grape production significantly down

The EU-28 remains a leading producer of fresh deciduous fruits. Apples are the most important fresh deciduous fruit grown within the European Union. Commercial apple production in marketing year (MY) 2014/15 is estimated to increase by 8 percent year-on-year and reach 11.7 MMT. Commercial pear production is forecast to
be comparable to MY 2013/14 at 2.2 MMT whereas table grapes production is expected to be down by 16 percent and account for 1.6 MMT. Non-commercial apple production shows an increase of estimated 45 percentto 1.6 MMT; non-commercial pear production forecast is at an almost 3 percent decline reaching 160,000 MT.

Significantly higher apple production is expected to occur in Poland, Italy, Germany,
Hungary, Belgium, Austria, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, which is only partially offset by lower production in Spain, Croatia, Romania, France, Portugal, Bulgaria, and the Baltic countries. The Netherlands and Belgium report higher pear
production in MY 2014/15 by about 20 percent, which is offset by 3 percent lower production in Italy (the major pear producer within the EU) and 9 percent lower production in Spain. Table grape production is expected to be significantly down especially in the major producing country Italy but also in Spain and Greece. On an average, quality and fruit size of the apple crop in MY 2014/15 is reported to be very good.

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