EU apple production is set to fall this year, dragged down by a drop in production from the union’s new member states, according to latest figures from the Prognosfruit 2005 forum.
The event, held in Denmark this week, revealed that the EU-15 production is forecast to rise this year to 7.1 million tonnes, up from 6.8mt last year.
Meanwhile, the new member states have seen a drop in production, down from 3.4mt in 2004 to 2.9m tonnes this year.
The biggest drop off has been a 12 per cent fall in Poland, equating to 322,000t. Hungary, the second largest apple producer of the group, has also seen a significant drop in production of 179,000t.
Among the EU-15, production in Italy and France is on the rise, by seven per cent and four per cent respectively. Italy is up by 150,000t a year, while France has produced an extra 70,000t. UK production is forecast to rise 12 per cent, or 20,000t.
Meanwhile, the ongoing shift in variety continues, with producers continuing to phase out older apples in favour of newcomers such as Pink Lady and Fuji.
Braeburn volumes in the EU-15 rose six per cent from 285,000t in 2004 to 305,000t this year and Gala is also up, by 12 per cent, from 711,000t to 803,000t. Pink Lady volumes remain small but have risen by 18 per cent on last year, up from 54,000t to 64,000, while Fuji has climbed 40 per cent, from 88,000t to 124,000t.
Golden Delicious remains popular, with production up seven per cent to 2.3mt, from 2.2mt last year.
Significant falls have been seen in varieties such as Idared, which is down 19 per cent, from 114,000t in 2004 to 91,000t this year, and Elstar, down 13 per cent, from 427,000t to 370,000t.
In the new EU members, most apple varieties are down, with the exception of Granny Smith, which despite a 33 per cent rise, remains low in volume at just 1,000t, and Sampion, which is up 12 per cent at 259,000t.
Idared remains the biggest variety, but has fallen 12 per cent from 664,000t last year to 584,000t this season.
When it comes to pears, total production in the EU-25 has fallen four per cent, to 1.5mt, with France registering a drop of seven per cent or 18,000t. Spain, however, remains the EU’s biggest producer, with a nine per cent rise to 573,000t.
Of the new member states, Poland is the biggest producer of pears but has seen a fall of 25 per cent to just 65,000t.
