The Belgian pear season is still going as expected at BelOrta. There had been high expectations for Belgian pears on the market, however, those are currently meeting demand. "Sales are picking up. Here and there, there's a fruit with a slightly rougher peel, but the pears are still finding their way smoothly to various export destinations," says Laurent De Smedt, BelOrta's top fruit division head.
"Sizes are generally larger, and the smaller pears are more expensive than the large ones. That's because the smaller-size programs are fixed. Some batches of larger sizes are also sometimes pears that have been harvested at the end of the picking season. These cannot be stored and must be sold urgently. That creates additional price pressure on these sizes, making the smaller ones more expensive."
"There are lower volumes than last year, though. We'll have Class II pears, but I don't think there will be much more Class Is than last season. All in all, we're looking forward to a positive season," Laurent says.
Lower apple volumes mean better prices
That is not only true for pears; the new apple season is also cause for satisfaction at the cooperative. Last year, apples were the problem child, and many growers uprooted their trees. That has led to lower volumes this year, which can positively affect prices. "We did suffer some scab, so the failure rate is slightly higher than last year. However, sales are going well."
"And the apples' color is coming along nicely now. Overall, we're picking a little less than estimated. Harvesting has a lasting impact on volumes. The industry is taking far fewer apples, but that's not negatively affected prices. We expect good apple prices during the season, which is, of course, sorely needed, after the previous years," Laurent continues.
BelOrta's new Kanzi season has also started. "That began very strongly last week with good sales. The quality is excellent, and our new sorting system's advantages are immediately evident. It lets us respond quickly to market demand."
The specialist has seen club variety cultivation increase in recent years. "Jonagold remains very strong in Belgium, but more and more growers want to stand out by offering different varieties. You see this in pears with the Qtee and Fred, and with apples, Kanzi is a favorite option," Laurent concludes.
For more information:
Laurent De Smedt
BelOrta
120 Mechelsesteenweg
2860, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, BE
Tel: +32 (0) 126 70 260
Email: info@belorta.be
Website: www.belorta.be