Sint-Truiden (The Brussels Morning newspaper): The EU apple harvest is the second-lowest in 10 years down 11% while pear harvest is similar to last year. In Belgium apple harvest is 34% less due to bad weather forcing farmers to focus on local sales
The apple harvest in Europe this year is not so good it’s the second lowest in ten years down 11% from last year. Even the pear harvest in the EU is low like last year. In Belgium the apple harvest is much worse than other places 34% less than usual. Bad weather in Belgium with lots of rain and little sun in April and May made it hard for the trees to grow well. Hail also made things worse. There are fewer apple trees in Belgium now and that can’t compete well internationally. Poland is a big competitor with a lot of apple trees and they are selling more since the conflict in Ukraine. Now Belgians have to focus more on selling apples locally.
What factors are impacting Belgium’s apple and pear harvest this year?
In April and May Belgium had lots of rain cold weather and not much sun. This constant rain made the soil too wet for good fertilization which plants need to grow well. Farmers found it hard to fertilize properly so the crops didn’t grow as they should have. In April and May Belgium had so much rain and not enough sun which made it hard for plants to grow well. Because of this the crops didn’t grow as they should have and farmers had a tough time dealing with these weather problems. In Belgium the pear forecast is 279 million kilos which is 26 percent less than last year. Pears are a big deal here because the climate is perfect for them making the supply smaller. Belgium is a key player in the pear market due to its experience and ideal climate. Despite challenges like weather issues and a bacterium problem this year there’s optimism for the future. Farmers are looking into new pear varieties to keep up with changing preferences and increase consumption.
“A limited harvest is expected to create a better balance in the market, resulting in better prices for growers”
Luc Vanoirbeek, Federation of Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives
Because there won’t be many pears this year the companies that process them might have to pay more. This could mean better prices for the growers but might lead to a small price increase for consumers. Elko Fruit is protecting their crops from bad weather by covering them with nets and canopies. They’ve been doing this to make sure they have a good harvest despite unpredictable nature. It’s all about being ready for anything in the fruit business.
“It would be an important step in the right direction to relax and simplify the permits surrounding the protection of crops”
Koen Francis, Manager Elko Fruit
