Apple sales is booming

According market research company AC Nielsen, sales of apples are growing over 10% a year. Of standard lines, Granny Smiths are enjoying a sales revival with growth of 13% year on year - these now account for 9% of all apple sales in Britain with worth of 57 million pounds sales in the latest year. Cox apple have also enjoyed growth (+20%) following a poor year in 2005. Worth 43 million pounds in the year to march 2007, sales have increased by over 7 million pounds year on year. The overall market is now worth 610 million pounds. Last year sales were flat, with standard variants in decline and only organic apples showing signs of growth. This year both organic (+10 %) and standard lines (+11 %) are performing well. Organic varieties now account for five percent of the market worth 31 million pounds. Not selling so good are standard cooking apples which have declined 7,4 % to 9,7 million pounds. Organic cooking apples are increasing in popularity but still represent a tiny segment of the market at 68.000 pounds. Mr. Cox, senior business development man at Nielsen, predicts in coming years increases in organic lines. The research comes as estimates released at Prognosfruit indicates that a 6,6 m tons apple crop is expected in Western Europe, its lowest level for the decade and 6% lower than both the 2005 harvest and the 2002-2005 average harvest. Combined with a predicted 2,95 m tons crop from the EU"s new members, some 2 % lower than in 2005 and 8 % under 2002-2005 average , the EU-25's overall apple production for 2006 is set to stand at just 9,55m tons in 2006. This is 5 % lower than last year' s production and 7 % lower than Europe's average haul in 2002-2005.