The German apple campaign is now approaching the second half of the season. "The current stock is about 15 to 20 percent below last year's levels. However, it should be noted that the abundant harvest in 2022 was not a benchmark. Considering the alternation of apple trees, I would not classify 2023 as a bad year, but as a good, average harvest year," says Jürgen Faby, managing director of the eponymous family business.
The company, based in the heart of the Altes Land, offers its customers a wide range of varieties, consisting of established standard varieties as well as club apples. Faby: "In the end, the decline in yield is across the board, whether it's our main varieties like Elstar and Red Jonaprince, or the club varieties Junami or Fräulein already mentioned. The only exception is the Wellant: Due to new plantings and area expansions, there have been pleasing increases in quantity. These new plantations will gradually come into full yield over the next one to two years, so further increases can be expected."
Jürgen and Heiko Faby are jointly at the helm of the fruit wholesale company.
So far, the marketing situation has been pleasing in terms of price and quantity, Faby adds. Compared to the previous year, prices can be achieved that are 50 to 60 percent higher across the entire portfolio. "The relatively high producer prices do not compensate for last year's losses, but they are satisfactory from both the producer's and the marketer's point of view."
End of the pear season is approaching
The core fruit range of the Faby company is rounded off by regional pears. "In contrast to apples, there has only been a minimal harvest decline in pears. In terms of price, we are almost at the level of the previous year," says Faby, who points out the imminent end of the season for German pears. "The cold stores are almost cleared out and there are only small remaining quantities of Conference, Alexander Lucas and Xenia. By the beginning of February at the latest, we will probably bring the last regional pears to the market."
Mixed annual balance
Overall, Faby looks back on the past calendar year 2023 with mixed feelings. "In terms of price, the apple season 22/23 was a complete disaster, but in the end, prices were a bit better. In the current season, we have been quite satisfied with both the prices and the sales quantities right from the start." The marketing year 2023 must also be viewed differently in the summer fruit category. "The plum and berry campaign was very good, except for the blueberries. The biggest disappointment, however, was the sweet cherry: Here, the Turkish import goods were considerably cheaper than the domestic fruits, which made it extremely difficult to generate sales. I also fear that it will remain challenging in the coming years to compete in terms of price with imported goods."
Visit the company at Fruit Logistica: Hall 20 / A-22.
For more information:
Jürgen Faby
Faby Fruit Wholesale GmbH & Co. KG
Sandhörn 1 
21720 Steinkirchen
Tel.: 04142-819224
Fax: 04142-819222
juergen.faby@fabyfrucht.de
www.fabyfrucht.de