This year’s EU apple crop is predicted to be some 12 million tonnes, representing a 4 per cent decrease on last year but an 11 per cent rise on the five-year average.
New data released at Prognosfruit by the World Apple & Pear Association’s Philippe Binard forecast a strong crop in Poland, Italy, France, Portugal, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. Declines are reported in Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, Hungary and Greece.
Poland is the largest producer, with 30 per cent of the EU’s apple output, followed by Italy with 19 per cent and France with 13 per cent, meaning the leading producing nations are all expecting a good crop.
Binard pointed out that in previous years, the final total often exceeded forecasts, and this year’s prediction is actually slightly up on the original 2014 forecast. At the very least the second-largest crop in the last decade is expected.
On a variety level, production of traditional favourites such as Golden Delicious (-4 per cent), Red Delicious (-4 per cent) and Idared (-7 per cent) are all down, while newer varieties such as Fuji (+6 per cent) and Pinova (+14 per cent) are on the rise.
Production conditions have been solid across the continent, with a mild winter, early spring and limited frost damage helping in the early days, but a heatwave in June and July having a detrimental impact. Overall, Binard said, sizes are average, with normal fruit set. The season should experience a “clean start”, with no leftover stocks and little pressure from the southern hemisphere, he added.
Binard also updated delegates on global production, with world leader China slated to produce 37.6mt (+8 per cent) and the USA 4.9mt (-4 per cent). Turkey’s production is up a substantial 20 per cent at 2.5mt, while difficult conditions in Argentina see the South American country’s output falling 24 per cent to 1mt.
