"Estimates were low, and even less came off the trees" is how Tony Derwael of Bel'Export – a Belgian company focused on fruit and vegetable cultivation and marketing - summarizes the Belgian top fruit crop. "It's somewhat disappointing," he says.
Growers got good off-tree prices of around €0.65, so Tony expects half that country's pear volume has already been sold. He, therefore, anticipates that pear growers could realize prices of around one euro this season, enough to cover wood sales and storage costs.
Italy, however, could be an issue, says Tony. "Italy had a normal harvest - in line with their acreage and more than double last year's - of an expected 400 million tons. That country is, thus, in the market and naturally wants to recapture the German market, which we briefly took over. That means increased market pressure."
Tony attributes the disappointing Belgian crop to heavy rains during flowering, leading to damage caused by the pseudomonas bacteria. "Bacteria like this manifests entirely differently at just a degree colder or a few more liters of water," he explains. "That was probably the difference between Belgium and the Netherlands."
According to the trader, club concepts play a somewhat more significant role within the stable Belgian apple and pear acreage. But he questions whether there is room for the 40 or so newly introduced bicolor apple varieties. "I think we're wrong again. I have trouble telling all those varieties apart, and that's my job. It's almost impossible for the general public. They don't know the difference between all those varieties; they simply buy a kilo of apples," Tony points out.
He thinks the 'big four' - Golden Delicious, Gala, Elstar, and Jonagold - will, for now, keep playing the leading role in the European market. Tony doubts that a club concept that has to compete with varieties such as Jonagold or Elstar can make the same prices.
He also sees global obstacles like the disruptions in the Red Sea caused by wars negatively affecting European exports to countries such as India and Egypt. And Derwael is concerned about the rising cost of machinery, resources, and especially wages in the Netherlands.
Despite these challenges, he believes there is room for a 'fair consumer price' of around €2/kg. Tony considers that a reasonable price for all in the chain.
Tony Derwael
Bel'Export
Neremstraat 2
3840 Borgloon - België
Tel +32 12 440 551
[email protected]
www.belexport.com