The consensus was reached at the third annual congress of the World Apple & Pear Association in Cologne earlier this month when growers' representatives agreed that internal-quality best practices were required in order to help address the imbalance in supply and demand.
WAPA has formulated a series of best practices through industry consultation. Member countries will now present these to producers for voluntary adoption later this year.
"It is hoped these will lead to an improved product to the final consumer and increase consumer confidence in the industry's products," said WAPA's Tom Lyall.
The association's members have also agreed to develop world-wide marketing strategies based on the health benefits of apples as documented by scientific research. "We hope a strategy collectively supported by all major producing countries will achieve the goal of increasing awareness of health benefits and directly increase consumption," added Dr Lyall.
WAPA is also working on information sharing among producer-countries as well as a specific project to harmonise the way information is shared. The organisation is also studying supply-chain protocol including interfacing with retailers.
WAPA was formed two years ago and now counts Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK and the US among its members.
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