Italian apple consortium VOG enjoyed a positive campaign between August 2012 and February 2013, according to director Gerhard Dichgans, as apples continue to survive the current global crisis.
Dichgans said that the sector had been “remarkably resilient” over the last few years.
“Despite particularly low harvest figures, month after month we have met the sales quotas planned at the beginning of the campaign,' he explained. 'It would appear that apple consumption has suffered only very marginally from the distinctly higher prices. Demand has remained high, due to the relative scarcity of apples all over Europe caused by the particularly difficult climatic conditions experienced in the spring of 2012.'
The consortium expects the lower volumes toward the close of the season to be compensated for by higher prices.
'We have known for months that 2012's low harvest figures would cause limited product availability in the latter stages of the season,” said Dichgans. “The data on European apple stocks on 1 February, showing a 17 per cent drop, meaning half a million tonnes less, confirms this trend. We can exclude the possibility of imports from the Southern Hemisphere filling this shortfall, since harvests there have not risen from last year. Therefore, we foresee a relatively tranquil conclusion to our season, with stable volume and prices levels.'
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