The apple and pear stock data in Catalonia as of October 31, 2020, released by Afrucat, the Catalan Fruit Business Association, reveals that the volume of apples and pears stored in Catalan chambers is the lowest of the last 5 years.
The reduction is especially remarkable in the case of apples, with a 30% drop compared to last year and an 18% reduction compared to the average of the last 5 years. By districts, the decrease in Lleida is higher than in Girona (the two major apple producers). While in Lleida the chambers have 36% less apples in storage, in Girona there is just an 8% reduction.
This drop is due to the combination of various factors, including the increase in the consumption of apples and pears during the pandemic, which left the chambers empty; the short summer fruit harvest and the low harvest forecasts for apples and pears this season. In fact, forecasts point to the shortest European pome fruit harvest in the last 8 years.
General context
The total stocks of apples and pears in Catalonia as of October 31, 2020 are lower for both apples and pears, compared to October 2019.
With apples, we stand at 205,099 tons (t); 30% lower than last year. As for pears, the global stock in Lleida (complete and global data for Girona is not yet available) as of October 31 is 85,892 t; 4% lower than in 2019.
Territorial Demarcation of Lleida:
The total stock of apples has been estimated to amount to 151,682 t; lower than last year. The stock of the Golden varietal group stands at 89,230 t. That of the Gala group reaches 16,239 t. The stock of the Fuji is estimated at 15,240 t. For red apples, the stock amounts to 7,289 t, and that of the Granny Smith stands at 10,618 t.
Regarding pears, 85,892 t have been recorded, 4% less than last year. In Conference, the stock is 61,350 t, and that of the Blanquilla is 9,304 t. The remaining varieties are reaching higher figures than last year, with the exception of the Alejandrina, the Flor de Invierno and the Dean of Comice.
Territorial Demarcation of Girona:
A total of 53,417 t of apples have been reported to be in storage, which is 8% less than last year. The stock of Golden apples is 23,559 t; that of the red ones amounts to 5,623 t; there are also 8,065 t of Gala and 9,374 t of Granny Smith.
For more information:
Afrucat
www.afrucat.com