With approximately 40% of a normal harvest, this year’s Rocha pear campaign will end earlier than usual. “We will have merchandise until the end of April/beginning of May, while we usually sell until the end of June” explains Eric Tastayre, manager of Apifood. “We will try to go as far as possible in the season but unfortunately, the situation is complicated this year. The production has indeed been disrupted by a series of weather hazards such as spring frosts, heat waves and summer drought.
Poorly lucrative market
Given this lack of volume on the market, we had expected prices to follow. However, this was not the case either. “This year was even more complicated because the other varieties of pears were not faced with the same difficulties as the Rocha pear and were therefore available in large quantities on the market. This made the Rocha pear more expensive and therefore less attractive to consumers, despite its excellent quality this year. We struggled to get a price corresponding to the lack of volume and the Rocha pear could not be valued as it should. It has been one of the worst years for the Rocha pear since 1991. The market is not remunerative, and we even had to stop following some clients who were not willing to pay. We have been ready to make efforts and even sell at a loss to maintain some continuity in sales with our clients, but we also have to think about our producers who must get a fair remuneration for their pears.”
Pears of good quality
This year has been quantitatively and financially difficult for the Rocha pear despite the great quality of this year’s harvest. “Although calibers were rather small (mostly 55-60mm), the quality was very good this year, with a high sugar content. The Rocha pear may not be the most lucrative of pears but it has a very good shelf life and taste, so it clearly has a place on the market.”
Besides pears, Apifood is in the middle of the orange season which is also going quite well. By the end of the week, the company will also offer Lovita plums from South Africa and strawberries from mid-March, before starting the cherry season in 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
apifood.com