The top fruit season started later last year and according to Tony Derwael, if the weather stays like this, this year will start earlier. As a result, the marketing year will shorten. "We should not be pessimistic, but realistic. There are indeed several signs that this season is not going to end well. Almost every variety ended in a low note. If we look at the situation from harvest, the prices only went down. And I do not expect them to come back up. In a good year the season ends with good prices and this will not be the case this year."

To much product.He goes on to note that there have only been a few highlights. "For apples and pears we have always had the highest prices at harvest. Except for the big pears, for them we received at least 75 to 80 cents, but even here there is pressure on the market now. There is a surplus of most products just now, or too little demand. Currently the market is fairly stable. For the exhibition in Berlin there was a revival but then it decreased again." With apples there was, according to Tony, only normal pricing going on with Elstar. "Between 70 and 80 cents is not bad, unfortunately in Belgium we are not specialists in Elstar. Jonagold was disappointing, because part of it was picked too late and the conditions were not great. So we have got to live with that. When it comes to volumes, I think we are still on schedule in Belgium. If we go on like this I estimate we will still have 100 million kilos of pears in Belgium. I do not have the insight when it comes to apples.

Lots to Europe overseasThe southern hemisphere top fruit season has started with pears. "These are now more expensive than our Conference, but I have the impression that this could change quickly. This season I expect a lot of imports from overseas, because the exchange rate is interesting. The euro and the pound are quite strong and stable, especially against the Ruble, which is low. I think less is sent to Russia and more to Europe. I also hear that the Middle East are closing less agreements and contracts overseas, for both apples and pears. That's saying something. I fear more is sent to Europe because the experiences of last year were not so bad. Good prices were made for the imported fruit at that time."

Decreased sales seasonWhat exactly will happen is not clear yet. "that is the interesting part of this trade, nobody knows. You just have a gut feeling. But what I can say is that there is certainly no reason for over-optimism. The main factors that can work against us are the exchange rates and the European harvest will likely be earlier than other years. Last year in Holland Conference pears were held until August, but this year I would not recommend this to anyone. We have had no winter, and if the weather holds, then there will be early flowering and thus an early harvest. Therefore the marketing year will be shortened. Last year we had a late harvest and we lost three weeks of sales. This year, we may lose a few more weeks. These are things that we can not control.

Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/