Pear production in the Netherlands this coming season is expected to rebound from last year's extremely small crop, according to NFO, the Dutch Fruit Growers Organisation.
The group has published initial forecasts for the country's apple and pear crops, predicting a significant rise in overall pear production to 311,000 tonnes, compared with just 170,000 tonnes in 2008.
Volumes of the most prevalent pear variety, Conference, are due to increase by 85 per cent year-on-year, reaching an estimated 250,000 tonnes.
It remains uncertain whether or not the major increase in production will have a dramatic impact on prices.
Apple output in the Netherlands, meanwhile, is forecast to be 2 per cent higher than last year at around 392,000 tonnes, said the NFO.
Production of the two main varieties, Elstar and Jonagold, are anticipated to be around 165,000 tonnes and 125,000 tonnes respectively – making Elstar volumes slightly lower than in 2008 and Jonagold more or less in line with last year's figure.
Club varieties grown in Holland continue to increase in volume, with Kanzi growers predicting a 57 per cent increase in production at 11,000 tonnes and Junami volumes set to be 90 per cent up on last year at 9,500 tonnes.
