The marketing organisation believes that Dutch production over the next five - seven years is capable of 75 per cent increase. Already a major supplier virtually year round, the Dutch industry produces 70,000-120,000 tonnes of this key variety annually. If production does increase at the rate hoped for by The Greenery, this could mean 200,000t might be considered a normal Dutch pear crop.
To back its initiative The Greenery is conducting a promotional campaign with growers to communicate the message. And although a spokesperson for its UK based information service added this could also include cash as an added incentive, Hans van Es, communications director at the organisation's Dutch head office, ruled this out.
'We are advising growers to plant Conference as our market research indicates that the UK is a good market for the fruit,' he said. 'But that is the grower's decision to make.' The Dutch research also showed that the Benelux and Scandinavian countries are growth markets for Conference, and the Greenery plans to target Germany because it has traditionally preferred other pear varieties.
Van Es believes some of the growth in Dutch Conference supplies will come from growers planting new orchards, while others are likely to switch from different apple and pear cultivars. 'That is up to the growers,' he said.
Directors at The Greenery made the decision on Conference several weeks ago and have been talking with growers but, says van Es, it will take time before the new strategies will be executed.
Adrian Barlow of promotional body English Apples & Pears has warned that any increases in production on the Continent must be matched by promotional effort. 'To avoid downward pressure on prices in the UK, important action must be taken to increase consumption,' said Barlow. 'Past experience shows that as production increases, there is a mismatch between supply and demand which affects everyone and in this case if it is in the UK market, it will affect UK growers.' But van Es suggested that if the Greenery's research shows there is market growth in the UK for Conference, then there are also opportunities for UK growers. 'In northern Europe in general apple production is declining, but pears are doing well,' said van Es. 'It could be that the UK should turn more to Conference production too.' Barlow confirmed that EAP's research shows pear consumption has been creeping upwards over the last eight years, and that trials of Concorde pears used in pilots for the National School Fruit Scheme showed it to be the most popular fruit among young schoolchildren.
Meanwhile, crop quality for the 2002 Dutch season is reported to be very good after mild weather during the growing period leading to a harvest much improved on last year.
Pears are sweeter than last season, and there should be more fruit above 65mm in size, which The Greenery expects will increase both consumer satisfaction and trade confidence.
