In the presence of 170 operators from the sector, the French Apple Pear Association (ANPP) announced its harvest forecasts and outlook for the 2023/2024 season, at the campaign launch on August 31st. After 3 years of deficit, 2023 finally marks a return to a positive dynamic, with a more promising market. As for pears, the production is down this year, but the harvests are low in all European countries, especially in Italy, which should be beneficial for French pears in terms of marketing.
A very nice apple harvest
After a difficult 2022 campaign due to the rising production costs and inclement weather, this year looks very promising. “No major weather hazard has impacted the apple orchards this year,” explains Vincent Guérin. Quality, size, sugar content and taste are all satisfactory. According to Daniel Sauvaitre, president of ANPP, “the 2023 harvest looks good and should satisfy consumers in terms of quantity and quality.”
A total of 1.5 million tons are predicted for this new campaign, which is 8% more than in 2022 and 10% more than the three-year average (120,000 tons more than the volumes harvested over the last 3 years). Vincent Guérin explains that the harvest “is more abundant than in previous years and it is very close to a normal year in terms of volumes, but it has not reached full production potential.”
French apple harvest 2023
On both the French and export markets, French apples should benefit from the “rather low European harvest this year (11.4 million tons announced at Prognosfruit, against a production potential of 14 million tons), as well as from a market empty of carry-over stock and from already significant export demand.”
Figures for club and international varieties: Golden should reach 358,000 tons (+10.8% from 2022), Gala 279,000 tons (+6.9% from 2022), Granny Smith 139,000 tons (+2% from 2022). Among the club varieties, Cripps Pink with 163,000 tons is down by 14.2% from 2022, marking a return to stability after a very high harvest last year, but with a much better packing rate than last year; and Juliet is up by 15% this year. The production of terroir varieties (Belchard, Chantecler, Reinette grise du Canada, Reine des reinettes...) is slightly up (+2% from 2022).
Alternating year for the pear: - 28,6% from 2022
Figures were good in 2022 but this year, the sales of French pears are down by 28.6% (compared to 2022) and 6,8% compared to the three-year average. This drop is attributed to the phenomenon of alternate bearing and is a direct consequence of last year's heatwave.
French pear harvest 2023
The drop affects all varieties, but the Guyot (-45.2%) and Doyenné du Comice (-38%) are particularly impacted this year / © Eco-responsible Orchards
French pear harvest 2023
A total of 105,000 tons of French pears are expected, which is in line with the generally low European harvest (1.75 million tons announced), especially the very sharp drop for Italy. This situation should nonetheless benefit the French pear, which is faced with a clear market, conducive to the promotion of new varieties and therefore to good sales.
European pear harvest 2023 per country / © Eco-responsible Orchards
European pear harvest 2023 per variety / © Eco-responsible Orchards