Two weeks ago, Apifood started marketing its cherries under the Etamine brand. The beginning of the campaign was complicated for the early Burlat variety, but luckily, the situation seems to be improving this week. “We had a lot of rain during the first week, which had a strong impact on the Burlat harvest. Many of the fruits burst, which means that only 30% of the harvest could be sold, mainly concerning the cherry trees protected by tarps,” explains Eric Tastayre, manager of Apifood.
Despite these difficult beginnings, the situation seems to be improving with the weather. “The weather has been nice for a week. However, although the Burlat harvest was complicated, the season will play on the firm flesh varieties which will enter their production peak in the next two weeks,” explains Eric. “As for the quality, it seems to be improving day by day and it is now very satisfactory. Today, 95% of our batches are very nice. Everything is far from being lost, even if this year’s harvest is likely to reach only 60 to 70% of the volumes of a normal season, due to physiological drops from the time of fruiting.”
This lack of supply keeps prices firm. “As far as I can remember, it is the first time that prices did not drop after a holiday. They even increased. Unfortunately, we do not supply our clients with the desired volumes, but we hope that the harvested quantities will increase in the next three weeks and that the weather will be favorable for consumption.”
Eric started harvesting a week early this year and thinks that he will end the season around the end of June.
For more information:
Eric Tastayre
Apifood
Bâtiment administratif
Marché Gare
82030 Montauban
Phone: +33 5 63 20 22 50
Mobile: +33 6 07 59 03 75
eric@apifood.com
www.apifood.com