The pear market is sluggish at the moment. "We're at a nice price level, but because we have a lot of Class II pears in Belgium, foreign buyers are currently choosing to produce their own rather than importing. This is especially true when prices are relatively high for lower-quality products," says Katrien De Backer. Her parents run the Amelinckx fruit company along with her uncle, Jos Amelinckx, and she is also involved in the fresh produce trade.
She notes that it has been a turbulent lead-up to the new hard fruit season. "Winter 2023-2024 was rather 'drizzly'—not really cold but damp, dreary, and dark. These milder winter temperatures led to extremely early pear flowering, with the first buds appearing as early as mid-March. By mid-April, the trees were beautifully dressed in white blooms, with the pears traditionally blooming before the apples."
Hard to find quality fruit
"The growing season has gone from rain to drizzle," she continues. "The transition from flower to fruit was difficult, with many days and weeks of wetness. Bees and bumblebees preferred to stay in their warm nests rather than pollinate and collect wet pollen. During the setting period and shortly after, the delicate fruits also faced frost and multiple bouts of hail. This weather pattern lasted for months, which was disastrous for growers but ideal for emerging diseases in the fruit, with all their consequences. Frequent, timely, and attentive crop and climate protection interventions were required. You could say it was quite the challenge."
Katrien points out that conditions varied significantly by region. "This spring weather pattern affected all our neighboring countries to varying extents. Even within Belgium, there were big differences in fruit quality depending on location, variety, and even within individual plots. What we can say with certainty is that there is less top fruit this year. Good quality fruit will be harder to find, apples will finally fetch better prices, and the pear size grading will be very high, thanks to a smooth thinning and adequate moisture absorption by the remaining fruit on the trees."
Large price differences
In the pear market, this means workable but moderate sales for now, she explains. "We've also had quieter periods around All Saints' Day and before the Fruit Attraction in Madrid, so it hasn't been overwhelming. However, what is selling is fetching reasonable prices. It's noticeable, though, that there's a clear price difference between Conference pears and, for example, Doyenné de Comice, which is significantly more expensive. The reason, of course, is that volume is considerably limited. These varieties are also more sensitive to spring weather, and we're seeing that reflected in pricing. Moreover, in Belgium and the Netherlands, many old trees are no longer being renewed because they are much more sensitive. This means that one year you might have full trees and the next, nothing. Growers no longer want that kind of uncertainty."
On the other hand, Katrien sees a brighter outlook for apples. "Things are much smoother there. Many trees have been uprooted in recent years, so we see considerably less Jonagold volume this year, which has led to favorable prices. Club varieties are a different story, as supply there is often aligned with demand, allowing for more tailored pricing. Jonagold has seen a significant decrease in acreage, and this year we're seeing strong demand accompanied by good prices."
For more information:
Amelinckx Asparagus & Fruit
Queen Astridlaan 171
2880 Hingene, Belgium
Tel: +32(0)475 26 99 15
[email protected]
www.topasperges.com