The French Embassy took a group of French apple growers and exporters on a tour of New Spitalfields Market on Wednesday morning, with the aim of promoting the UK market’s many outlets for French apples.
The UK is the main export market for the French apple industry, but the last couple of seasons have seen a decline in exported product. Frédérique Gardel, market adviser for the embassy, explained: “It is important for French exporters and growers to see how the UK wholesale market operates, to maintain their market share.
“Over the last couple of years, French growers have been losing share in the market to southern-hemisphere apples.
“In 2000, France exported 180,000 tonnes of apples to the UK, but last season the figure was down to 135,000t.”
Bernadette Astoul, director of French exporter Hexa Go!, believes that UK wholesale markets are hard for French apple growers and exporters to get into. “To serve the wholesale market in the UK, you need a good recognised brand that provides a regular source of quality,” she said.
“Without that you do not get a good price… This is a good opportunity to look at the competition and quality out there.”
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