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Portugal dependent on Rocha
Portugal
Saturday 13 October 2007
Portugal produces 130,000 tonnes of pears from 12,000ha of pears orchards. Rocha make up about 97% of total production. Exports take one third of production, mostly to five countries led by the UK and Brazil. The average pear orchard is 2ha but 80% of production is from 20% of the growers.
Rocha has been trialled in the US at OSU Hood River Centre and also imported by Brandt’s Fruit Trees under the name Madeira. In consumer preference surveys in Portland Oregon, it did not perform well. Russet development is variable and with consumer preference for large clean or fully russeted fruit it does not seem that Rocha will be mainstream in the US.
Rocha has been trialled in the US at OSU Hood River Centre and also imported by Brandt’s Fruit Trees under the name Madeira. In consumer preference surveys in Portland Oregon, it did not perform well. Russet development is variable and with consumer preference for large clean or fully russeted fruit it does not seem that Rocha will be mainstream in the US.
