+33 680 38 14 46
The number of apple producers has decreased by 40% in 15 years
Belgium
Tuesday 20 September 2022
FJ
In Belgium in the Flanders region, the number of apple growers has decreased by 40% compared to 2005 (Photo: rtbf.be).
A worrying finding for apple growing in Belgium, where the Flanders region has 40% fewer apple growers than in 2005.
According to Jo Brouns, Flemish Minister for Agriculture, in 2005 there were 1,081 active apple growers in all of Flanders but only 638 in 2020. That is a variation of -40.98%.
In the country and over the same period, apple production increased from 331,635 tons in 2005 to 168,032 tons in 2020. That is a variation of -49.33%.
Despite this fall in production, the demand for apples in Flanders has not diminished. Since 2015, more than 90,000 tonnes of apples have been imported each year, mainly from the Netherlands, New Zealand and France.
According to the Minister, the sector has been impacted in recent years by increasing competition, by the negative effects of climate change and by the geopolitical situation. Some producers have even stopped the production of apples to start other crops.
source : vlaamsbelang.org
