"A stable pear season. And if everyone continues to sell sensibly, we will be able to see it through in the final months." This is how Louis De Cleene of Devos Group, soon to be Devos-Wouters as of August 1, describes the current Belgian season. "Of course, things have been different in the past, so I hope we can avoid extreme fluctuations, both downward and upward."
"Overall, particularly from our own production, we have had a very good year. However, in my experience, when it's a good year for growers, it tends to be more challenging for trade, with margins coming under pressure. Fortunately, at Devos, we have enough of our own cultivation, which provides a buffer and finally allows some breathing room on the production side. Our Green Diamond growers also contribute to this," Louis explains. The company from Bekkevoort, Flanders, has processed most of its pear varieties and is now mainly working with Conference pears, which they have in stock. The season for red pears such as Early Desire and Queen's Forelle ended on a very positive note. "Additionally, some Qtee pears are now arriving from South Africa, courtesy of our colleagues at Wouters."
Louis is looking at the final months of the Conference season with confidence. "We have sold slightly more than last year, and we are hearing the same from our competitors. Of course, we all remember what happened at the end of last season, but I can't imagine that happening again this year. We know what we have in stock, and there simply aren't enough pears to create an oversupply. It's only early March, and most pears are already scheduled for sale. The key now is to continue supplying our regular customers, as we do every year, but any side sales are practically impossible. In fact, free pears are almost non-existent. Everything is moving smoothly—from small to large sizes and from class I to class II."
As for storage quality, he has no complaints. "So far, everything is holding up well. Of course, there was some uncertainty due to the challenging growing season, but for now, all our tests have been positive. Moreover, we haven't received any complaints about the pears we are shipping, which take two to three weeks to reach their destinations. This is also thanks to the expertise we've built up over the years—knowing which pears to send long distances, which ones to sell before New Year, and so on. It's essential to have a clear strategy for using different pears at the right times."
Difference between price per crate and market prices
"One ongoing challenge in recent years is the stark difference between price per crate and market prices," he continues. "There are reports, as well as actual cases, of storage cells being sold, whether through online platforms or otherwise, for around 90 cents per kilo. Market prices did rise slightly this week, which might change things, but just last week, we heard about the price per crate being 90 to 95 cents per kilo for direct sorting. However, using market prices, you're nowhere near those figures. That discrepancy between palox and market prices remains, and we've encountered this issue regularly in recent years. It's not easy to bridge the gap. That said, since we have our own pears and a buffer, it's not a major issue for us. Still, we are always looking for trading opportunities. Demand is certainly there, and if you can supplement supply through additional purchases while making a profit, you do it. But at the moment, making any profit from that is nearly impossible."
Could overseas production still cause disruptions? "I don't think it will be too problematic. Take Qtee pears, for example—they belong to a completely different segment, so they won't interfere with Conference pears. However, Abate pears, for instance, always play a role. Still, my impression is that Conference pears will hold their place on the market this year. More than anything, I hope that everyone continues to act sensibly in the coming months. We expect pears to become more expensive toward the end of the season, which makes sense, as it takes considerable effort to maintain high-quality pears during the final months. If that happens, we can close the season just as it has been going all along: positively stable."
For more information:
Louis De Cleene
Devos Group
Eugeen Coolsstraat 66
3460 Bekkevoort - Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)16 77 97 58
[email protected]
www.devosgroup.com
