A year of climatic uncertainties and contrasts for Swiss apple and pear production

Switzerland has experienced various climatic hazards (frost, rain, hail, wind) which affected many crops. For the 2021 production, apples are expected to reach a volume almost similar to that of 2020 but pears are expected to total a much lower volume

 

According to SOV (Schweizer Obstverband), the Swiss fruit association, there should be a harvest of around 120,091 tonnes of table apples, or -1% compared to last year. Thus, despite the frost in April, thunderstorms in June and the rainy summer, national apple production held up well.

 

However, important differences are to be expected depending on the varieties and regions of the country. For some varieties (Gala, Golden Delicious, Braeburn) the volume will be greater than last year, for other varieties (Boskoop, Idared, Milwa, Elstar, Gravensteiner) the volume will be significantly lower than last year , because these varieties were more affected by frost and undergo the phenomenon of alternation.

 

For Swiss pear production, SOV's estimates are less positive with an estimated volume of around 18,600 tonnes, which represents around 79% of the 2020 harvest. For the most cultivated varieties, forecasts predict 7,439 tonnes (- 10% compared to 2020) for the Kaiser Alexander variety, 3,694 tonnes (-14%) for the Conference variety and 2,446 tonnes (-45%) for the Williams variety.

 

SOV clarified that these figures are forecasts and that the marketable quantity could be, in the end, lower than these estimates.

 

source : schweizerbauer.ch