The prices of the current top fruit season should serve as the benchmark for future years. This is the view of Xavier Laduron, a grower himself and head of the fruit sector committee at Fairebel. "Everyone always wants the highest returns, but right now we are working with sustainable prices. It's a significant change from five years ago. As a grower, you can now actually turn a profit and make fruit cultivation attractive for the next generation."
"This applies to both apples and pears," Xavier continues. "The fruit is of good quality this year and is holding up well in storage so far, so I don't expect any issues in the coming months. Whether we will have stock until July is top to predict—I don't have a crystal ball. However, I expect we can maintain these prices. In fact, we must, because prices simply cannot drop. As growers, we have yet to recover the losses of the past ten years. That doesn't happen overnight."
When asked whether current prices are a result of lower volumes of both apples and pears, Xavier is firm in his response. "I don't think we are experiencing a shortage, do you? Yet prices are strong, which must mean there is a lower supply. We hear everywhere that there is an undersupply this year, and next year might be different—but I can't do anything with that. No one knows what next year will bring. I'm not a fortune teller. Of course, we shouldn't be overly optimistic this season, but we must also have the courage to say that these prices should be the standard moving forward."
"As growers, we must also ensure that happens," he continues. "No one's goal is to make it into the top 10 of the Quote 500. We simply want to earn a living and be able to reinvest. With these prices, we can actually look ahead. Lately, we've been hearing more and more that succession is the biggest challenge in fruit farming. I can tell you—it's a crisis. Yet, the solution is simple: an extra zero in the bank account would make the profession much more attractive. I know it's easy to say, but we have the most beautiful job in the world. However, without proper financial recognition, no one will want to do it. Growers simply need better compensation to secure the future of fruit farming."
"That doesn't mean prices need to skyrocket. No one is asking for that. This year, they aren't approaching €1.50 per kilo, and I think that's better than last year. Back then, prices were extremely high towards the end of the season, but those who had already sold their fruit early earned nothing. This year, with prices around €1, everyone has the opportunity to sell. That's fair, and that's the way it should be."
Is Xavier concerned about the future? "If people come to understand that we need these kinds of prices, then I have no worries about the future. In that case, growers' children—who were practically born with an apple or a pear in their hands—will be interested in taking up the trade. It's a wonderful profession, but we need to make it appealing. If the job is profitable, I see no reason why people wouldn't want to do it. Costs keep rising, so prices must follow. Of course, we can always try to work more efficiently, but we won't be cutting production costs by 15% anymore. I believe we already have one of the most efficient cultivation methods, so the real question is: what should a grower earn? That applies to multiple crops, and awareness of this issue is growing—but let's hope it continues."
For more information:
Xavier L
aduron
Fairebel
+32 (0)80 44 77 26
[email protected]
www.fairebel.be