Pear harvest is expected 3 weeks later than last year

In Belgium in the Flanders region, the pear harvest will begin 3 weeks later than last year, according to tests and analyzes which determine the best picking date for each variety.

 

Every year, VCBT (Centrum voor Bewaring van Tuinbouwproducten), the Center for the Preservation of Horticultural Products, and KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) carry out laboratory tests and analyzes on different varieties of pears and apples. Examining the color, sugar level and firmness of thousands of pieces of fruit. With this data, the best picking date is determined for each variety.

 

For this year, the period from September 6 to 18 is considered ideal as the harvest date for Conference pears, a little later than usual. For the Durondeau variety from September 6 to 10. The other pear varieties, Cepuna and Doyenné, from September 12 to 18. Last year, the harvest started on August 17.

 

While traditionally for Belgian professionals pears were ripe around September 1 and apples 1 month later, significant fluctuations are now observed. "The picking is either very early or very late" said Bart Nicolai, professor of biostatistics (KU Leuven), "Official dates are needed to prevent the fruits from being harvested too early or too late. The government wants to ensure that only high-quality fruit comes to the market. That is why producers should not pick too early and picking too late also poses problems for the conservation of the fruit. "

 

A list of all the pear and apple picking dates is available on the VCBT website http://vcbt.be/

 

source : vilt.be