According to Agreste, at the end of December apple stocks were 10% lower than in 2015 and 2% below the 2011-2015 average. The decrease is mainly due to a 7% harvest decrease over the year.
Prices in September were 2% above the 2011-2016 average (14% higher for gala apples). The same trend was noted in October and early November. National demand decreased in December, except for “club” varieties. There was also high competition from citrus fruit at the start of the season.
French apples are in competition with Italian and Polish apples on the European market. Gala and large calibre apple sales were more active than Golden or Granny.
At the end of December 2016, pear stocks were 2% above those recorded in 2015, but 5% below the 2011-2015 average over the same period. The Ministry of Agriculture reported that following an inactive start to the season in 2016-2017, demand increased in August on both the national and European market.
Summer pear prices were stable at the start of the season, 30% higher than in 2015 and 22% above the 2011-2015 average due to a reduced production and active demand. However, with competition from summer fruits, the trend slowed down in September.
Williams pear prices were also high. Sales were smooth in October, but under heavy competition from Conference pears from the Netherlands and Belgium.
In November and December stocks slowed down but prices remained 12% above the 2011-2015 average in December. Prognosfruit predicts that the European 2016 harvest is 9% below the 2015 harvest and 7% below the 2011-2015 average.
