European pear production is expected to bounce back from last year’s historic low to reach 2.52 million tonnes - a substantial 16 per cent increase on the 2.17mt achieved in 2008. The rising volumes could boost the reputation of pears, which in the past have often been seen as the poor relation to apples. And even though investment in the industry has not been as heavy as in its top-fruit counterpart, pears could see their potential realised.
According to the World Apple and Pear Association, both the Belgian and Dutch pear crops will be significantly larger this season, with the Netherlands expected to increase its production by 81 per cent to 311,000t. Belgium, meanwhile, will raise its crop to 281,000t - a 65 per cent rise.
France will increase its crop by 23 per cent to 193,000t and Italy will enjoy larger volumes of 817,000t, an eight per cent rise. Spain is the only major producer that will have a lower crop of 427,000t - a 10 per cent drop.
Conference accounts for the bulk of European production, accounting for 34 per cent of total volumes. The variety will enjoy a huge surge in numbers this season to 856,000t, as Belgium and the Netherlands forecast higher volumes.
Abate Fetel production is also set to rise by 12 per cent, but Williams output will fall by three per cent.
In the Low Countries, the substantial increase in pear production in recent years has been well documented. Growers have expanded heavily into Conference, achieving better returns for pears than for apples.
Conference is finding favour among key markets throughout Europe and even China has expressed an interest, but it is Russia that is showing particularly strong demand. Traditionally, Russia has preferred the larger pear sizes, but it is now also opting for average sizes, such as counts 70, 75 and 80.
Growers have also invested in early- ripening pear Corina. This variety has the same characteristics as Conference, but ripens around three weeks earlier.
However, there are fears that there will be an over-saturation of Conference following the steep rise in volumes this season, and marketers insist that Europe needs to diversify its top-fruit offer.
Indeed, Luc Vanoirbeek, horticultural policy advisor to the Belgian Farmers’ Union, says Belgium now needs to focus on new apple varieties, in particular Belgica, Kanzi and Greenstar.
In terms of other producers, Italy is Europe’s largest pear grower and the Emilia Romagna region accounts for roughly 65 per cent of the crop.
Leading Italian producer Alegra SC Agr exports a wide variety of pears including Williams, Max-Red Bartlett, Conference and Abate Fetel. According to Diego de Lucca, export manager at Alegra, the company has increased its pear harvest by 16 per cent this season compared to 2008-09. The percentage increase is almost double that of Italy’s eight per cent rise.
Having exported pears to the UK since the 1970s, Alegra is hoping to boost its volumes this season, but de Lucca recognises that this may not be an easy task. He cites growing UK production, competition from other countries and the economic situation as key challenges.
However, Alegra has been hard at work developing the UK market further for Abate Fetel and offers this variety in smaller packs containing three or four pears. “Abate Fetel is the major, top-quality pear,” de Lucca tells FPJ. “It’s important to explain to consumers about the optimum ripeness of this pear.”
Bigger pear sizes could boost sales this season and ensuring consumers get the tastiest, high brix level pears will also benefit the sector.
Meanwhile, Rocha pear production in Portugal is expected to reach 184,000t, a two per cent drop on the 188,000t achieved in 2008. Weather conditions have been extremely favourable, according to ANP, Portugal’s national pear association. “We have had a normal bloom and fruit setting and enjoyed good temperatures accompanied by weekly rainfall,” says Joana Arroz, ANP representative. “This year, Rocha pears are bigger with fewer skin defects and we expect good production volumes.”
The UK remains the top market for Rocha pears and exports have increased in recent years, reaching 16,600t last season. This accounts for 39.5 per cent of total Rocha shipments and pear promotions will be conducted at the main retail stores, Arroz says. However, although exports to the UK have been “very high” over the last three years, it may be challenging to continue the upward trend. Arroz points to the “the new exigencies concerning the packaging requirements of the UK market” as one potential hurdle.
Rocha is exported until May, but the pears can be stored for longer with no quality deterioration, says Arroz. “If the retail stores prolonged the commercialisation period, we could easily increase UK consumption,” she adds.
Exports are also rising to other EU countries including France, Germany and Poland, as well as non-EU markets such as Brazil, Russia, Canada and Angola.
Significant investments have been made in the Rocha sector at all levels. Growers have increased their irrigation area and established large capture traps to eradicate fruit fly and there have also been major investments to increase the volume of pears stored in a controlled atmosphere. Achieving global certification standards, with a keen focus on improving calibration methods, food safety and traceability, is also a priority. The high quality of Rocha pears and growers’ attempts to produce a better fruit each year are standing the sector in good stead.
The Western Rocha pear enjoys Protected Denomination of Origin status and it is grown on the western central coast of Portugal. It has a thin, smooth, light-green skin, with white flesh.
Maintaining the price paid to producers in order to improve and sustain the best agricultural practices and improving the marketing of Rocha pears are key challenges.
Spain is the second-largest pear producer in Europe, but production has fallen continuously since 2006, when the crop reached 608,000t. The harvest will total 427,000t this season and Conference and Blanquilla represent the most important varieties, accounting for the bulk of Spanish pear production.
Elsewhere, Poland produces a sizeable 80,000t of pears each year and its most important varieties are Lucas, Claps Favourite and Conference. According to Marcin Hermanowicz, one of the three partners involved in Fresh Fruit Service, Poland also produces significant quantities of Comice.
A newer variety known as Xenia, which is a cross between Triomphe de Vienne and Doyenné du Comice, is known for its large, juicy fruit and is favoured by Ukrainian and Russian importers.
Polish pears have traditionally been treated as a side crop on the apple farms, but the situation is beginning to change. “There is a growing group of producers who are treating pears more seriously and specialising in this crop and recently, new pear orchards are being planted,” says Hermanowicz.
However, he points out that the Polish climate is not ideal for producing pears and while orchards can flourish in some years, in others, early frosts can damage plantations. “Therefore, pears can be grown only in certain regions of the country or the overhead irrigation must be used to minimise the risk of frost damage,” Hermanowicz explains.
In the UK, pear production is expected to reach 30,000t this season, a sizeable 7,000t rise on last year. Norman Collett is consolidating its pear assets and this season will market small volumes of Vereecken, a Dutch clone of the Conference pear. According to Nigel Jenner, Collett’s technical director, there have been improvements in pear trees and bud wood in recent years. “New plantings are of better quality,” he says.
Traditionally, the UK has been unable to compete with its Dutch and Belgian counterparts. According to Jenner, the average age of Dutch and Belgian orchards is only six to seven years old, compared to the UK where many orchards are quadruple that figure.
Although pears need significant levels of irrigation, some UK growers are now investing in new orchards following the evaluation of different European growing techniques that offer better-quality fruit and a faster return on investment. “It’s more simple to crop pears than it used to be,” Jenner says. “We are now at the stage where a grower can plant pear trees and get a crop of sorts in three years and be in full production much sooner.”
UK pear production could see a further boost following rising demand for home-grown product. “Until recently, growers were getting out of pears, but now with pear cider, there is a decent market for outgrades,” Jenner says. Annual pear cider sales have risen to £46m, compared to £3.4m in 2007, according to recent figures.
Jenner does not think there will be a massive replanting of pears in the UK in the near future, but the sector could see some consolidation. “There was a definite swing towards British-grown produce two years ago and although demand has dipped slightly because of the recession, our long-term hope is that there will be a sustained demand for English pears,” he adds.
In terms of the 2009-10 season, the large Belgian and Dutch crop this year could temper grower enthusiasm and producers do need to evaluate whether they are in a climate that is good enough to compete with their European rivals. “Ultimately, production will be driven by demand and prices and if demand for UK pears is maintained, there could be a steady increase in volumes,” says Jenner.
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