Pears - Tasty, excellent product in the top fruit range

Countries such as Holland, Belgium and Italy dominate the German pear market. Pears from domestic production play more of a secondary role on the market. Jürgen Hatterner, sales director of Vereinigte Großmärkte für Obst + Gemüse Rheinhessen eG (VOG), explains: "Our German offers have more of a complementary character over there. Although pears are also produced in Germany, although less than is the case in Holland, Belgium or Italy." The VOG from Rhinehessen is a central marketing organization of the fruit cultivation industry in the Rhineland Palatinate and includes around 1,500 members.

Jürgen Hattemer, sales director of the association Vereinigte Großmärkte für Obst + Gemüse Rheinhessen eG (VOG)

Like some producers in Italy, the VOG members have also had to deal with hail damage to their pear production. Jürgen Hatterner describes the current situation: "Here in Ingelheim, our harvest of this year has been decimated by hail damage as well. This year, we are expecting that the harvest will be smaller than the long-standing average." Normally, the long-term average harvest yield of VOG has been around 7,500 dt.

Pears until January
Hatterner describes: "Currently, we are selling the pear type Alexander Lucas. This one runs until the end of the year." Beside Alexander Lucas, the VOG also deals in the types Clapps Liebling, Williams Christ, Gute Luise and Conference. "Price-wise, the pears orient towards the previous years," the expert continues. From the vantage point of the present, the VOG Ingelheim will have pears on offer until January.

Sales director Jürgen Hatterner would rather see a trend in the old pear types, or the excellent types taste-wise, such as the new breed Xenia.

Provider of sweet and sour cherries, plums, apricots and mirabelles
"The marketing of pears encompasses only a small part of our product assortment," the sales director tells. Beside various other fruit types and asparagus, the Rhenish marketing cooperative society is a large supplier of sweet and sour cherries, plums, apricots and mirabelles.

Jürgen Hattemer
Vereinigte Großmärkte für Obst + Gemüse Rheinhessen eG
Am Großmarkt 1, 55218 Ingelheim
Tel. +49 (0) 61 32 7 84-0
hattemer@vog.de
www.vog.de