This year's Dutch apple and pear harvests are expected to be smaller than last year: 207 million kilograms of apples and 341 million kgs of pears. That is according to information from GroentenFruit Huis and NFO based on the working group harvest estimate.
Compared to last year, 2023's apple crop will be about 12% smaller. That is due to decreased acreage and less fruit on the trees. The latter is partly down to the apple blossom weevil, resulting in some flowers not developing into fruit. With a 40% share, Elstar is by far the most widely grown apple in the Netherlands.
This year, 82 million kilos of that variety should be harvested, eight percent less than last year. For the Netherlands' second-largest variety, Jonagold (incl. Jonagored), 50 million kg is assumed. Kanzi and Rode Boskoop follow these as the most harvested varieties. The area under apple cultivation in the Netherlands has been declining for years.
The pear crop is expected to be three percent smaller than in 2022 but similar to 2021. Conference, which makes up more than three-quarters of the Dutch pear harvest, is gauged at 263 million kilograms. That is two percent lower than in 2022. This year, plenty of Conference pears are their characteristic bronze color again.
Doyenné du Comice and Beurré Alexander Lucas follow at a distance as the most widely grown pear varieties. Here, 22 million kgs and 20 million kilograms are expected. The 13 million kg Xenia and eight million-kilogram Migo crops should exceed last year's. The total pear acreage has increased slightly in recent years to over 10,000 hectares.
The main apple and pear varieties' new crops will be available from early September, with summer varieties harvested in mid-August.
