Italian apple consortium VOG expects a good balance between apple supply and demand this season with volumes down across Europe.
VOG 2010, the new strategic operation set up by the Terlano-based Association of South Tyrolean Fruit Growers’ Co-operatives, has just made its first shipment of apples of the new season.
The province of South Tyrol expects a drop in apple volumes of eight per cent this season, with production forecast for around one million tonnes, or nearly 10 per cent of the European crop.
However, with the total European crop anticipated to be some 11 per cent down, managing director Gerhard Dichgans expects there to be a good balance between supply and demand this season.
“South Tyrol is also expecting a slight drop in volume, after a record year in 2009,” he said. “However, the drop is also partly due to the smaller size of the harvested fruit, whereas the quality and maturity levels are excellent, thanks in part to the cool August weather which resulted in good colouration of the fruits.
“I can confirm that the start of the harvest was delayed by about one week, with the first consignments of Royal Gala taking place in the week after the 15 August public holiday.”
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