Pear production in Europe will significantly decrease in 2021

This week, the International Pear Congress, Interpera, was held virtually. A decline in production, due to frost throughout Europe, was the highlight of the meeting.

According to the Catalan Fruit Business Association, AFRUCAT,  the leading pear producing country - Italy - has already confirmed effects of frost in the fields, with a serious physiological drop in fruit and decreases in their final production. Potential losses are not calculated yet.

In France they project drops of 50% and of 30% in Belgium and the Netherlands.

In Spain they project a slight decrease of 5 percent due to the April frosts that mainly affected early varieties such as Ercolini and Limonera, while the effects on late summer varieties such as Blanquilla or Conference depend on the region.

The area planted with pear in Spain has decreased slightly and only the Conference, Ercollini and Williams cultivars have increased hectares.

Northern Europe plans to start the season later, while Italy and Spain believe that, although at the moment the campaign is 3-4 days late, the planned harvesting schedule could be as a normal one, and taking into account the temperatures that are registered today, it might even last longer.

Portugal is the only country that expects increases in production  (+56%) with a slight increase in the area cultivated.

According to AFRUCAT, this estimated decrease in production forces the sector to plan the season properly to avoid leaving markets and losing customers.

source: fepex.es

photo: tasteatlas.com