The US pear industry remains focused on promotion in key Asian markets as new European entrants to countries such as China start to put pressure on prices.
Speaking at Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong this week, international marketing manager of trade body USA Pears, Lynsey Kennedy, said the group was there to talk to key importers including China, Taiwan, Indonesia and Vietnam.
“We have several varieties to promote including red and green Anjou, and brown variety Bosc,” she said. “We think that one will do really well in Asian markets because it’s crisp, but still really sweet.”
The US pear crop is about two per cent up on last year, according to Kennedy, although it is still “on the small size”.
Access to the Chinese market for European exporters such as the Netherlands and Belgium has begun to impact the pear trade, she continued, but US exporters remain focused on marketing activities across retail, wholesale and foodservice sectors.
“There is definitely more competition in China now. There is lots more European fruit going in and it’s hard to compete on price,' she said.
Marketing activities for the year include World Pear Day, which this year takes place on 2 December, and will include events such as a restaurant takeover in Indonesia with pear-themed dishes. Consumer and trade education is another area of focus to promote US pears’ points of difference.
The US export season to China runs from the end of September-early October until May, she added.
