The southern hemisphere top-fruit crop will be lower than last season. Figures presented by the World Apple & Pear Association (Wapa) last week show that the apple crop from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa is expected to reach 4,048,390t and the pear crop from the same countries to total 1,334,526t. These figures represent a decline of 7.8 per cent on the 2005 apple crop and an increase of 8.8 per cent for pears. In terms of recent season averages, the 2006 apple crop is forecast 6.8 per cent down on the average for 2003-06 and 7.4 per cent up on the average for the same period on pears.
“The collation of these comprehensive statistics has hitherto provided sound information on which operators can base decisions,” said Tom Lyall of the Wapa secretariat. “Wapa is firmly committed to coordinate industry-led steps to increase transparency on markets and to promote an upturn in the fortunes of the global apple and pear business. We believe this forecasting exercise a vital component to such progress.”
Also released by Wapa at its agm in Berlin on February 3 were the European apple and pear stock figures as at January 1, 2006. These show that apple stocks are up four per cent on last year and pear stocks are running six per cent higher at 2,619,227t and 450,959t respectively.
Wapa also considered the activities of various members to promote apples and pears within member countries and highlighted the development of new consumers as key to raising overall demand, as per capita consumption remains stagnant. “Excellent ways to promote apples and pears are used in WAPA member countries and certain concepts can be adopted elsewhere without compromising the cultural specificities of individual markets,” said Chris Zanobini, Wapa president.
Members were also presented the latest research results from European studies into the relationship between apple fruit size and quality. This research will form the basis of the European industry’s position on the modification of the European apple marketing standard.
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