Collected from industry groups in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa, the forecast showed that the 2016 apple and pear Southern Hemisphere crops are expected to reach 5,298,000 MT and 1,378,000 MT, respectively.

For apples, this represents a decrease of 2% on the 2015 crop; while forecasted export figures increase by 6% to 1,630,382 MT. For pears, decrease of 8% on the 2015 crop is recorded while forecasted export figures are expected to have decreased with 1% at 684.582 MT.

The World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA) held its Annual General Meeting on Friday morning 5 February at the Fruit Logistica in Berlin. Representatives of the key global apple and pear producing and exporting countries met to discuss the Southern Hemisphere production forecast as well as the final Northern Hemishpere and other matters currently on the Association’s agenda.