The Pink Lady apples produced in Lleida and Girona have closed the campaign with a 4% increase in sales in Spain in 2016, as well as a 114% growth over the last four years, while Spanish producers continue working to boost their presence in foreign markets.
Sales have actually been slightly higher than those of other apples for the last two years as a result of the decline suffered by the Golden and Royal Gala varieties. Thus, Pink Lady now accounts for approximately 2% of Spain's apple market and two thirds of the sales of the fruit's brands.
Regarding production, Spain has harvested 7,130 tonnes in the last campaign (4,052 in Girona and 3,078 in Lleida), which has meant a 1.5% increase compared to the apple market as a whole, which has fallen by 5%. "That is why we can say that Pink Lady has experienced a growth of 118% over the last four years," pointed out the Spanish producers.
The Pink Lady, a unique variety that is the result of the crossing between the Golden Delicious and the Lady Williams, has 280 hectares devoted to it in Spain and 45 producing families in Lleida and Girona. "Pink Lady is an apple grown in the traditional way," pointed out Joan Serentil, who has specified that Spain produces eight million kilos.
Spanish producers Alex Creixell and Joan Serentil are happy about the rising popularity of their apples in Spanish retailers, and acknowledge that they have been surprised by their presence in Lidl. "It has become the distribution chain selling the most Pink Lady and that is something surprising," assured Creixell.
For his part, Serentil stated that they don't rule out working with Mercadona, since that is the only national distribution chain in which it is not yet available, and they also expect to expand their presence in Dia.
Attempt to market the apples in Canada
Spanish Pink Lady apple producers are targeting the export market in order to grow, since less than half of their production goes abroad, although they are already present in Ireland, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Germany, as well as the Persian Gulf and Israel.
Serentil has acknowledged that they have set the goal of shipping 6% of the production to countries outside the EU in order to "leave our comfort zone." He said he would like to enter Canada, which is "a market for the future, and try take some market share away from US exporters, because selling in the United States is unfeasible."
Looking ahead, Spanish producers are optimistic and expect Spain, Italy and France to produce a total of 275,000 tonnes, maintaining "a sustainable production, a balance between the different areas (planting and sales), social dynamism and the economic momentum at local level, which its production in Lleida and Girona entails."
Source: Europa Press
