The next few weeks will either make or break the French apple season, according to Jacques Vanoye, president of the French apple marketing commission. "At the moment the whole campaign is at stake," he told FPJ. "There was a bit more activity last week and we must really hope that continues. We had a very, very hard start to the season and so now it is very important that there is activity on the marketplace."
Vanoye blames the huge overhang of southern hemisphere fruit for the tough start which destabilised not only French export markets, Vanoye said, but also the domestic market.
Now it is other European producers that are making life awkward for the French. "Germany is not buying from us at all. Apples from Poland are going onto the German market which is causing problems not just for French producers but also for Italian producers too," said Vanoye.
"This year the UK is not so much of a problem for us - we are used to the supermarkets promoting UK production first, particularly before Christmas, and there is steady activity." But Pricing is a problem too though.
"At the moment prices are just not enough," said Vanoye. "Growers are selling at €0.10-0.15 a kilo below the cost of production. Gala has been having a bit of difficulty and stocks are higher but we are sending more to Asia, the Middle East and South America.
"We really need a good second half of the season now to avoid a loss of acreage. Because if growers do not get that, there will be some who give up," he warned.
