The relatively short but severe period of frost damaged many, especially young, trees. The picture, however, is changeable. In the south the harvest prospects are better than in other areas. The differences also make it difficult to arrive at good estimates.
The most evident is the smaller harvest of Conference pears. It is expected that this will be a third smaller than last year. With a share of 80% this variety mainly determines the picture in the pear area. With other pear varieties the expectation is that the harvest will be more than halved compared to last year. The total pear area is this year for the first time in its history larger than that of apples.
The harvest estimate of the most important apple variety Elstar is about 30% lower than last year. Of the variety Jonagold (including Jonagored) the expectation is that 34% less will be picked. The picture with Rode Boskoop is the same, also a third less than last year. Golden Delicious is expected to do better with even a small increase compared to last year. The harvest expectation of the so-called club varieties (Kanzi, Junami etc.) is to a large extent the same as last year's harvest. With these varieties are the results in general from a larger area a smaller harvest.
"In the working group Oogstraming the following are represented: the Nederlandse Fruittelers Organisatie (NFO), trading platform Frugi Venta and the Productschap Tuinbouw. The working group is being advised by DLV Plant taking measurements at companies all over the country.