The organisation reported that 2015 apple production in the EU will decrease 5% compared with last year’s crop. The pear crop is predicted by European growers to decrease by 4% compared with 2014. Additionally, the 2015 crop promises to be of good quality given the generally favourable climatic conditions and overall fruit size.

Despite concerns about the difficult conditions at the start of last season, through strong promotional activities, European countries sold their entire crops earlier than planned. However, the Russian embargo, together with the relatively large crop, resulted in an average reduction of 20% in returns to growers, many of whom suffered losses. This occurred despite the support measures made available by the EU which resulted in approximately 250,000 tonnes of apples and pears being given for free for distribution and the benefit of a considerably lower € to $ exchange rate which helped to increase exports.

Hans van Es, Chairman of the Fruit and Vegetable Committee of Copa-Cogeca, said, “The European apple crop last year was 15% higher than 2013, whilst pears were 5% greater. The industry had to content with the ban imposed by Russia, but despite these two factors, the industry sold the entire crops earlier than expected. The on-going support from the European Commission to alleviate the effects of the Russian embargo is greatly appreciated by the industry. However, the reduction in returns to growers is a considerable concern which unless corrected during the coming season will have an adverse impact on future investment and production.”

The 2015 European crop forecast for apples is 11,974,000 tonnes, 5% lower than last year. It should be noted that this volume is 7% higher than the average for the last three years. The estimates for varieties are as follows: Golden Delicious will decrease by 5% to 2,546,000 tonnes. Gala will remain stable at 1.331.000 tonnes. Idared is forecasted to decrease by 7% to 1,111,000 tonnes while Red Delicious will increase by 5% to 644,000 tonnes. Significant changes in other Northern Hemisphere countries are: Russia (+4%), China (+7,5%) and Ukraine (+16%), while production is expected to decrease in the USA (-4%), Switzerland (-4%) and Canada (-26%).

The total forecast pear crop in 2015 is 2,343,000 tonnes, 4% lower than last year. However, this is 6% higher than the average crop of the last three years. Conference will decrease by 4% to 934,000 tonnes, Abate Fetel by 7% to 334,000 tonnes, and William BC by 5% to 262,000 tonnes. Elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, crops have either increased compared to last year, as in USA (+1%), China (+7,5), Turkey (+36%), Russia (+4%) and Ukraine (+7%); or decreased, as in Switzerland (-11%).