This season, Catalonia's apple and pear production will remain largely stable, with slight variations depending on the area. The apple production is expected to fall by 7% (284,790 tonnes), while that of pears will record a 1% increase (139,970 tonnes).
"Now, the challenge lies in the varietal conversion of these species," stated Manel Simon, Managing Director of Afrucat, who recalled that the association has long been calling on the Ministry of Agriculture to implement a conversion plan for these species.
Simon affirms that a great effort has been made with peaches and nectarines, but great improvements can still be made with apples and pears as regards the colouration and yields by renovating the plantations with better adapted clones.
The acreage is also said to be increasing slightly in both cases, and this, according to Joan Serentill, president of Afrucat's seed working group, invites optimism, since it shows that "our fruit growers still think of apples and pears as a trustworthy product."
The forecast data presented, together with the first news announcing a drop in the production in the rest of Europe and the good progress of the sales of the product stored in chambers, which would lead to there being no stocks left before the start of the new campaign, also make the sector hopeful for better results.
Development of stone fruit prices
As for the development of stone fruit prices this campaign, at this time they may be considered fair, especially considering that the thinning costs have been higher. According to Simon, the good news is that we have already passed the most difficult time of the summer, which is the Big Top.
In order to have the definitive prospects for the European pome fruit production, we will have to wait for the Prognosfruit congress, co-organised by Afrucat and WAPA and held on 9-10 and 11 August in Lleida.