The pear market has quieted down, but on the apple market high demand from the East has erupted. In particular the Jonagold and Golden Delicious apples are on the rise, but the industry prices have also skyrocketed in the last weeks. "Poland demand for our apples is huge and the imported fruit is very expensive," explains Director Michel Schrijnemaekers from Fruitveiling Zuid-Limburg. "There is a little more pressure on the market with Conference pears, especially for the bigger sizes, but there is always a decent supply."
Michel is not aware of the national stocks, but he says that the stock in South Limburg is a lot smaller. "Compared to previous years we are way ahead of schedule, especially with Jonagold, and by June 1st we will have no more Elstar. There will not directly be a gap between the current and new season, but I do expect that we will all be empty when the new harvest comes. I am not hearing good things about the first Delbare and Delcorf apples. The setting is not strong and fewer kilo's are expected."
"The latter will also play a role in the factories. The price of the peeled apples has risen to 25 cents, and the apples for the juice industry are being sold for 17-18 cents. We could have expected that the prices for the fresh market would go up, but I find the current industry prices the most astonishing. A rising industry price drives the fresh market up as well. Last August we could not even get 3 cents per kilo for the industry," says Michel.
For more information:
Cooperatieve Fruitveiling Zuid-Limburg
Aan de Fremme 33
6269 BK Margraten
Tel: 043-458588
Fax: 043-4588599
info@veilingzl.nl
www.veilingzl.nl