Prices in the pome fruit market have maintained the trend of the last few weeks, with some products showing overall stability after having recorded significant price increases, while others are facing price adjustments.
In the case of pears, stocks in storage have been notably lower than last year in Catalonia, one of the main producing areas, and this is causing the season to finish earlier. In December, pear stocks in Catalonia stood at just over 28,400 tons, while in 2024 they amounted to almost 48,900 tons.
"Our pear season has already finished," says a pear grower and exporter from Lleida. "We usually extend the marketing of pears such as the Ercolini, and this year we have already finished in January. In general, we've had lower stocks. This is especially noticeable in the case of the Conference variety, as it is the one most commonly produced," he says.
"In general, pears have been selling well this year. Prices have been lower compared to last season when there was a noticeable shortage of Italian fruit, but they have still been good," he says.
At the source, prices have remained stable for most products in week 5, with notable rises recorded by Conference pears (+3.1%) and Gala apples (+0.6%). At the packing stations, Blanquilla pears (+10.9%) and Fuji apples (+3.6%) have seen their prices increase the most, while Gala apples (-3.2%) have recorded a significant drop. Conference pears have consolidated their position as price leader, 67.1% above the average.
In the regional markets, Zaragoza reports an increase in Golden apples and a slight drop in Conference pears. For its part, Lleida reports a price drop for the Golden and a slight increase for the Conference, while in La Rioja, Conference pear prices have remained stable for the fifth consecutive week.