“Lola apple could be the Dutch Pink Lady”

The Comice pear season is finished. “We are now selling the final small sizes. All in all, the season went relatively well. We had a fairly good, slightly bronzed pear at our disposal. Exports went well and demand was especially good from Italy and France,” says Erik Kieftenburg from Fruit Noordholland BV, part of MJ Pronk.

“The focus for pears is now with Conference pears, and that price has increased slightly as well. Prices depend on many factors, such as destination, fruit colour, certification and quality, but for the B/C sorting, it is around 65-75 cent. At this moment, there are many large-sized batches, and there is a slight shortage of 55/65, causing the As to be offered for slightly lower prices. But, all in all, pricing is just good. If about 60 cents is given for unsorted product, cultivators can even make a profit.”

That is less so for apples, according to the fruit trader. “For instance, I personally think Jonagold prices are only mediocre. A price level of 50 cents for the best quality is just not enough for cultivators. The same can be said for Elstar, although they are a bit more profitable. I can imagine prices for good quality Elstar increasing somewhat, but as soon as there is something wrong with them, they will be far less profitable.”

And, according to Erik, there are some points of interest as regards quality. “Due to the warm autumn, some coarsening has occurred, causing a white film on the apples. They look good after they have been washed with water and brushed, but after a few days, the film returns, resulting in the apples not looking their best. Firmness is also slightly disappointing on average with both Jonagold and Elstar. The apples treated with Smartfresh and stored in ULO cells are distinctive in firmness this year.”

As regards the new apple varieties, Erik sees Kanzi making big strides. “We are currently selling many Kanzi apples, while Junami sales are a bit disappointing. I think Lola is also a good apple. This apple contributes as regards flavour, and actually looks a bit like a Dutch Pink Lady.” He does not see new pear varieties conquering the market. “Just try to find a pear that does better than Conference. The Conference pear is available year-round, has a good shelf life, and can be easily cultivated. That is already much harder with, for example, Comice pears. One year you might have a lot, and the next year you have none when customers ask for them.”