A strike by farm workers in Argentina has delayed the start of the Williams pear export season.
Marcelo Loyarte of the fruit producers’ chamber, Cafi, told freshinfo: “We had an industrial dispute involving workers in the rural sector that delayed picking.
“It was resolved last weekend, but the result is that the season started late and there is a probable impact on the volume of exportable fruit. It also means that growers’ costs are continuing to rise year on year, not just labour now, but materials too, and it affects our ability to compete internationally.”
The season has therefore started about a week late, and Loyarte reported that the first vessel only set sail for Belgium on Monday. “Some producers are saying that there could be a decline of 15-20 per cent in exportable Williams, but these are just very early estimates,” he stressed. “The overall forecast for the export-quality pear crop is a decline of some six per cent on last season, whereas apple volumes are forecast to remain broadly in line or possibly experience a 0.4-0.5 per cent decline.”
As far as the overall production profile by variety is concerned, the emphasis in the pear crop will remain on Williams. Meanwhile, production of apples sees the gradual trend towards Gala and Pink Lady continue to make itself felt.
The EU is the first market to receive Argentinean top fruit this season, before the South Americans send to the US and Russia later on and, according to Loyarte, Algeria is also a market where they are enjoying expansion.
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