Positivism currently reigns in Belgium regarding the upcoming Conference pear season. Still, carefully considering decisions, especially with marketing, is vital, so Ruben Claes of the New Green cooperative explains. "I think Belgium holds next season's key, but to get the best prices, it's essential to be on the same page," he begins.
Ruben is also satisfied with the new Conference crop but admits there were some issues. "Our growers harvested 10 to 20% fewer kilograms than last year. We're picking less than the forecast, especially lower in the trees. That's mainly due to the frost we had. However, it means this year's fruit is much larger: 65 and 70 mm."
"The frost in the lower-lying plots also led to bronzer, rougher pears; so, there's more Class II fruit. And the pears' quality isn't as good as last year. For us, it's now a matter of sorting the different batches we receive according to buyers. Bronze pears go a bit more towards the Southern markets and the smoother pears more towards Northern and Eastern Europe," says Ruben.
The pears' size means they have to be monitored closely in storage. "I don't expect immediate problems, but they've grown very large quickly. Combined with their less firmness, they must be strictly controlled and monitored."
On the sales side, things look favorable for the Belgian supply on the market. "Commercially, I think we can expect a good season. Demand is very high, and we've started well. Still, we must keep selling every day. It's up to us and the other cooperatives to strive for the best price. As I see it, there's less harvest in Southern Europe. We've already had Italians and Spaniards here, all interested in the Belgian Conference, but only the larger sizes. We'll have to see how we'll distribute the different sizes," Ruben explains.
"Belgium holds the key, but we must collaborate well to realize the best prices. We're a young growers' association and want to keep expanding. It's, thus, vital that we dare to go for the higher prices." Those prices are currently indeed good, Ruben adds: "In the past two weeks, 55 mm pear prices remained virtually unchanged, at €0.90 to €0.95. Those are decent prices, and what's more, there's plenty of off-take. It's crucial to keep it that way."
Difficult apple story
In contrast, the apple story remains difficult. "Many growers uprooted their trees last year, so there will be fewer apples on the market. And, it was a tough growing season. There was a lot of rain, especially after the Jonagolds bloomed, which led to significant scab infestation in many regions. Also, the last few warm weeks have caused some sun damage in some areas."
"The combination of lower volumes and damage makes for a hard Jonagold, and actually general apple, start. The early apple varieties did well," Claes explains. "They were in high demand, and those batches had very little scab or sun damage. Now, the question is how Jonagold will fare once we begin with it, and it's almost time. It's hard to say. We don't know, but it's critical to keep an eye on it."
Other varieties
New Green and its growers are considering planting other varieties. "Our growers often ask us what they should plant. There's already so much Conference; you don't know what will happen with them, and apples are tricky. That's why our growers and we want to focus on niche markets: to jump into with new varieties. We're busy with that, and there should be opportunities for our growers and us," Ruben concludes.
