Bolzano – 2014 will set a record for the European production of apples. This is what emerged during the 38th edition of Prognosfruit, the annual conference organised by WAPA, the “World Apple and Pear Association” held in Istanbul from 6-8 August this year, during which the international forecasts for apple production were presented. Overall, it is estimated that 2014 will set the new record of the last ten years, with a European production of approx. 11.9 million tons, i.e. 9% more than 2013 and 12% more than the average over the last three years. The 2008 and 2009 records have also been broken. Among the leading producer countries, Poland is expected to increase its production by 370,000 tons compared to 2013, totalling 3,540,000 tons. Similar tendencies are observed for Italy, where 2,388,000 tons are expected (+ 266,000 tons up on 2013), and for Germany, with 1,036,000 tons (+ 232,000 tons compared to last year). The only exception among the large producers is France, whose production has actually dropped by 6% from the 1.57 million tons recorded in 2013 to 1.48 million tons in 2014.
From the variety perspective, there will be a general increase both in the traditional cultivars, and in the newer ones. The Golden Delicious is up by + 2% (2.58 million tons), the Gala + 7% (1.29 million tons), the Idared + 4% (1.09 million tons) and the Jonagold + 12% (562,000 tons). Also a major issue for the next season are the stocks of apples from the 2013 production, on the increase in many countries throughout Europe. In June 2014, compared to the same period of the previous year, Italy found itself having to deal with storage increases of 74% (236,941 tons, a European record), France of 248% (141,762 tons) and Poland of 100% (112,000 tons).
And this is going to be the extremely dynamic and difficult backdrop for the ninth edition of Interpoma, the international trade fair dedicated to apple growing, preservation and marketing. Also this year the event will host the international biennial conference “The Apple in the World” which, on its opening day, will analyse new trade flows and demand and supply developments in the apple sector.
Kurt Werth, renowned expert on fruit growing, and organiser of the congress "The Apple in the World", explains: “The 2014 season is going to be very complex all over Europe for three main reasons: the overproduction of apples which, with the exception of France and some other small countries, will be the common denominator; the existence of large quantities of stocks from the 2013 production; the measures taken by Russia against the European countries. The last problem in particular does not only concern Poland, the country that exported predominantly to the Russian market, but is likely to have repercussions on various countries, since we shall be faced with a Polish overproduction attempting to find new market outlets elsewhere. So sector operators are extremely worried about the scenarios that could develop in the months to come. What could be of help in coping with such a situation is likely to be the quality factor and, if necessary, the immediate withdrawal from the market by the industry of the lower-quality apples”.
In 2012, Interpoma welcomed to the stands of the Fiera Bolzano exhibition centre over 16,000 sector operators from over 60 different countries, an increase of 13.5% on 2010, and 364 exhibiting companies from 17 nations. This year's edition, which promises to be rich in content, with new ideas and in-depth analyses for all sector operators, will take place from 20-22 November 2014 in the pavilions of the Fiera Bolzano exhibition centre.
For further information: www.interpoma.it
Twitter: @interpoma – facebook.com/interpoma
Source: Interpoma