Apples in British market in the mid-September 2008

New season Golden and Reds should appear within 4 to 6 weeks with Granny a couple of weeks after. All apple is trading well up on last years prices and the European growers

have high expectations for this season, however this should hopefully be dampened

by the expected bumper Polish crop which historically has served the Russian

market taking pressure off Europe.

Prices for Dutch/Belgium Conference pear from the 2007 harvest have finished on

a 5 year high, coming in at over double the price of last year, this is due to a low

volumes being harvested/stored from 2007 and the exchange rate. This years

harvest due within the next few weeks is forecast to be 25% lower than expected

and the high prices are expected to hold. Alternatives such as Rocha,

Blanquilla and Ercolini may be used in order to deliver best in season from both

price and taste.