The bulk of the South African pear supply has already arrived at OV Fruit. This season, the importer will receive a full range of South African pear varieties, including Sempre, Rosemarie, Vermont Beauty, Forelle, Cape Rose, Cheeky, Abate Fetel, Beurre Bosc, Packham's, and CA.
© OV Fruit
"This year, sales are going well, and the market is well-balanced. There are slightly fewer Dutch pears, and we can nicely supplement that with South African pears, of which there are a few percent more," says Victor van Turenhout. "In the past two years, fruit traders in the Netherlands speculated with large stocks of Dutch pears, betting on a rising market at the end of the season. That didn't work out well for the market overall. This year, sales seem to be steady, which creates a healthy balance."
"We're now transitioning to the coloured varieties like Cheeky and Forelle. These coloured pears are particularly popular with ethnic customers, who prefer them over green pears," the importer said. "South Africa is having a good harvest this year. The weather has been fair, and there's been less pear damage compared to previous years. So, the outlook for the coming weeks is positive. Normally, we'll continue selling pears at least until June."
© OV Fruit
OV Fruit has also started importing Royal Gala apples from South Africa. "The colour and quality are good, and demand is focused mainly on the larger sizes. French apples are running out, which again creates opportunities this season," says Victor. He anticipates ongoing room for overseas top fruit in the coming years. "The only challenge remains the cost price, both in terms of logistics and the product itself, due to high container rates and other rising expenses. On top of that, the terminal issues caused significant delays recently. Fortunately, pears are somewhat less sensitive to these disruptions, but for other products, they can quickly become a problem. Things seem to be improving now, and hopefully, they'll stay that way."
Aside from a bit of retail, OV Fruit primarily serves the free market across Europe with its overseas top fruit. "We offer a wide range of varieties and work with a single brand. Our customers appreciate that—nowadays, they want more and more consistency, and we can deliver that through our brand."
© OV FruitFor more information:Victor van Turenhout
OV Fruit
Tel: +31 (0)6 199 446 14
victor@ovfruit.nl
www.ovfruit.nl