Tough year for apples and pears

Caxton Magazines

It has been a tough season for apple and pear farmers who have had to cope with heavy rains during the flowering season, which negatively affects fruit quality and the long term storability of fruit, as well as wind and hail damage to fruit later on in the season.

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According to Mariette Kotze, information manager at Hortgro Services’ agricultural economics division, the latest export estimates for apples and pears indicate that apple exports could be 3,6% higher than in 2011, with just over 26 million cartons likely to be exported. Meanwhile pear exports are likely to decline by almost 3% compared to 2011 and will most probably hit a four year low of 13,7 million cartons.

Read the full story in the 29 June 2012 issue of FW.

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