According to Job van Iterson of the Dutch company of the same name, the current top fruit season isn’t easy. “Major quality problems can be seen in apples this year, but even more so in pears. Because of this, trade and end customers barely have any confidence. Growers also have a lot to complain about. The season couldn’t end soon enough, in my opinion.”
“I don’t really care that much about large volumes, the quality problems are much worse. It has become an art to just buy the better batches and not to be tempted by pears of questionable quality, because price differences are extreme. We’ve cleared considerably, and will therefore have to buy additional product. Fortunately, good batches can be found, you just have to be alert.”
“It’s still doable on the domestic market. It’s just a matter of sorting today and delivering tomorrow, but it’s different in export. I consider myself lucky that 80% of my turnover is made domestically, and it’s not my ambition to become a major exporter,” says Job, who, in addition to Dutch growers, also works with growers from Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.
“Throughout Northwestern Europe we’ve had a subtropical climate. That has affected the entire top fruit production. I personally think the problems with Jonagold aren’t too bad, but Elstar was much affected by the warmth. I’ll be happy when we can start the next season, although that will undoubtedly come with its own challenges,” Job concludes.
For more information:
Job van Iterson Fruit
Mommersteeg 84
5254 VN Haarsteeg, the Netherlands
Tel: +31 6 22 44 30 16
Fax: +31 73 851 85 89
E: info@jobvanitersonfruit.nl