"Apple export to Russia going again"

The stock of pears is just about gone. "We expect to sell the last pears this week and then really all has been sold" Etienne Leclère, commercial director of Veiling Haspengouw tells. "Normally the stock lasts till the end of June, but this year we also started three weeks earlier than during previous years." With apples stocks are comparable to last year about this time."

"We can say that prices increased slightly during the last few weeks" the commercial director observes. "For good quality apples prices are between 50 and

60 cents at the moment, but that is really for top quality product. For 'common' apples the price is from 35 to 40 cents."

The better part of Jonagold is mainly sold locally. At the moment a part of the larger sizes goes to Russia. France as well, Scandinavia and England receive small quantities, as per Etienne. "Not too much went to Russia this year, the demand from that country was minimal. The reason is especially Poland and other neighbouring countries, which had a large production. The export to Russia is not all that good, but it has started again."

Leclère expects the apple market to remain at a comparable level. "Last year the stock of apples was relatively small, but we still sold them till the end of July. I expect a similar situation. During the summer sales are in any case less that during the period till the end of March."

For predictions concerning the next season it is, according to the commercial director, still 10 days too early. "We have to wait till the end of June and only then will we be able to give a definite opinion. Possibly with apples and pears there will be some changes. With apples it is already clear that there is less fruit than last year. Consequently the volumes will also be smaller than expected."

For more information:
Etienne Leclère
Veiling Haspengouw
152, Tongersesteenweg
3800 Sint-Truiden
Tel: +32 11 670 611
Fax: +32 11 672 776
www.veilinghaspengouw.be