Production of early English apple varieties in 2010 is forecast to rise some 10 per cent on last year, but Cox output is expected to drop by 15 per cent.
“We have potentially got a good season ahead of us,” said Adrian Barlow, ceo of promotional body English Apples & Pears. “Between the main early English varieties Discovery, Early Windsor and Worcester, it looks like we will be 10 per cent up in volume on 2009. At this stage, the best estimate for Cox is about 15 per cent down on last year, which will bring it more into line with demand.”
Almost continual price promotion on Cox over the past two seasons had not been good for the industry and having supply and demand more balanced this season would help bring better returns to growers, he added.
Gala volume is continuing to rise with output from English producers expected to climb 10 per cent above last year. “Given good production and storage it is now possible to market Gala until the end of May,” he said.
Braeburn output from English orchards is likely to be down on last year by about 10 per cent, which was “disappointing,” claimed Barlow. Late flowering varieties such as Braeburn suffered from frost damage in the first week of May, with Braeburn also having a tendency towards biennial bearing and last season was a good volume year.
Traditional variety Egremont Russet is forecast to decline 20 per cent on last season and thus bring output more into line with demand for what is essentially a niche variety. Meanwhile, newcomers such as Cameo, Jazz, Rubens and Mondi are expected to enjoy an uplift of some 15 per cent on 2009 as growers respond to market demand.
From industry information collated by EAP, Conference pears are forecast to be broadly in line with last year’s volumes while Comice and Concorde are both expected to show a 10 per cent decline year on year. “Concorde and Comice have suffered more with frost damage and there has also been some grubbing up and no new planting,” said Barlow.
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