Global

Latest Data for the Upcoming Season From the Southern Hemisphere of the World Apple and Pear Association (Feb 22)

On the occasion of its Annual General Meeting at Fruit Logistica, the World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA) released the apple and pear harvest projections for the Southern Hemisphere for the coming season. According to the forecast, which consolidates data from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa, apple and pear production will increase by 5.58% and 1%, respectively, compared to 2022.

United States

Cosmic Crisp Is in the Top 10 Best Varieties of Apples in the US (Feb 25)

Sales of Cosmic Crisp rose 174% in the five months to January 2023 amid falling US apple sales. Cosmic Crisp apples recorded the largest increase in sales among the top 40 selling apple varieties in the US. A review of Nielsen sales data published by Proprietary Variety Management (PVM) shows that Cosmic Crisp sales lead all other major strains, making it one of the top ten best-selling varieties in the US for the first time. The PVM overview covers the calendar period from September 2022 to January 2023. During this period, Cosmic Crisp sales grew 163% in value and 174% in volume. This is despite a 3.3% decline in total US apple sales.

New Zealand

Cyclone Gabriella Affects the Agricultural Industry in New Zealand During February 2023 (Feb 21)

One of the most destructive cyclones in New Zealand's history left a path of devastation that has left the agriculture sector, among others, in ruins. The cyclone hit the North Island the hardest, particularly Auckland, The Coromandel, and Hawkes bay affected the worst. The main crops affected were onions, pumpkins, watermelon, apples, stone fruit, maize crops, etc. Officials are still determining the extent of the damage in monetary terms. The industry has recently emerged from many challenges due to various domestic and international factors. Many farmers used the time to upgrade infrastructure and technology in preparation for better times, of which most were destroyed in the storm. Many orchards were covered with topsoil and could not recover. The impact of this storm will come clear within the next couple of weeks.

South Africa

Drop in the Price of Apples, Lemons, and Grapes in South Africa in W7 Due to High Supply (Feb 21)

In South Africa, by the end of W7, apples were selling at USD 0.47/kg, a drop of 6.41% WoW from USD 0.50/kg in W6. As for lemon, the price in W7 stood at USD 0.322/kg, a decline of 0.9% WoW from USD 0.325/kg in W6. Lastly, for grapes, the price in W7 stood at USD 1/kg, a drop of 2.29% WoW from USD 1.02/kg in W6. Being an early season for apples and lemons, the drop in prices is attributed to a steady increase in the supply of these fruits in the local market.

Poland

Polish Apple Exporters Facing Significant Difficulties Due to the Sanctions on Russia (Feb 23)

Polish apple growers and exporters are struggling due to the sanctions on Russia, as Russia was one of the main destinations for Polish apples. The growers note that new markets for Polish apples will not be able to compensate for the losses caused by the export ban to Russia and that growers need help from the state to keep their business afloat. As many growers started to uproot their trees due to economic difficulties, the growers demand the introduction of extraordinary state aid mechanisms.

Poland Is in Negotiations to Export Apples to Indonesia (Feb 24)

Poland is in talks with the Indonesian government to export apples to Indonesia. Polish government data shows that Poland's exports to Indonesia reached USD 107M in 2021. In the same year, the Southeast Asian country's exports to Poland exceeded USD 1B, increasing tenfold. Bilateral trade between Indonesia and Poland still has ample room for growth, especially in the agri-food sector. On Feb 24, the embassy was negotiating with the Indonesian agriculture ministry to ensure that more agri-food products are exported to Indonesia. 

Spain

Spanish Apple Market Status (Feb 22)

Domestic offerings continued to dominate the scene, with Elstar, Jonagold, Braeburn, and Boskoop forming the basis of supply. From Italy, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Golden Delicious were the main varieties. France participated mainly with the club varieties Pink Lady and Jazz.

Belgium

Stocks of Belgian Apples Much Lower Than Last Year (Feb 22)

The Flemish Department of Agriculture & Fisheries data indicates that at 70M kg, Belgian apple stocks on 1 February were considerably lower than a year ago which totaled 116M kg.

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Apple Exports up in 2022 (Feb 24)

Azerbaijan is summing up the export of fruits and vegetables in 2022. The volume of foreign supplies of apples increased by more than 20%. According to the government, in 2022 Azerbaijan exported 82.29K MT of fresh apples worth USD 52.87M. Compared to 2021, exports in quantitative terms increased by 23.1%, while revenue increased by 39.2%. The main export was to Russia amounting to 77.115K MT of fresh apples, an increase of 22.6% in volume and 38.9% in value. In general, Russia accounted for 93.7% of Azerbaijan's apple exports.

Ukraine

The Most Delicious Jonagold Apples Grow in Two Regions of Ukraine (Feb 23)

According to the results of a seven-year study, Jonagold apples grown in Podil and Transnistria have the best taste and appearance. Tetyana Kondratenko, a doctor of agricultural sciences, and professor of the Institute of Horticulture of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine writes about this in an article in the magazine "Horticulture in Ukrainian". She added that Jonagold apples, grown in the Southern Steppe, also had excellent taste, but formed insufficient covering color.

Ukrainian State Encourages the Cultivation of Nuts, Blueberries and Apples (Feb 23)

State grants under the YeRobota state program for the development of horticulture are most often granted for the development of hazelnut and walnut orchards, blueberry plantations, and apple orchards. A total of 76 orders for the development of horticulture were signed. The area of ​​these plantations is 1.14ha, and the total amount of grants for them is USD 9.36M (UAH 344.5M.) The largest number of grants are allocated to the development of hazelnut and nut orchards with 369.1ha. In second place are blueberry plantations with 313.0ha On the third are apple orchards with 27ha.

The Export of Apples Should Be Completed by April (Feb 24)

Theoretically, the prices of apples should increase during the first half of the year, experts believe, because there is a classic relationship: the fewer the leftovers, the higher the price. The only question is whether such growth will cover storage costs. Ukrainian apple producers have time for successful export sales until April, warns the head of the USPA Fruit company Volodymyr Gurzhii. Then an apple from the southern hemisphere will appear, prices should drop, and then producers will have hope only for the domestic market, and there are many conditions for such a forecast.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Exporters Agree to Simplify Fruit Exports to Uzbekistan (Feb 24)

Kazakhstan plans to achieve full self-sufficiency in apples by 2024. At the same time, for the further development of horticulture, it is necessary to increase export volumes. As Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin noted, Uzbekistan is one of the promising markets, but several barriers currently hinder the shipment of Kazakh applies to this country. “By 2024, it is planned to bring the gross harvest of apples to 352.5K MT, which will fully meet the needs of the domestic market. This will be achieved through the apple orchards that were planted in previous years and will reach full fruiting in 2024,” Serik Zhumangarin said.

Sweden

Ukrainian Royal Gala the Best Apples on the Swedish Market Despite War (Fe 20)

Royal Gala apples from Ukraine are selling very well in Sweden. According to Daniel Larsson of Hebe Frukt & Grönsaker, a Swedish fruit and vegetable importer and seller, "Despite the war, Ukraine has the best Royal Gala apples on the Swedish market". He compliments the Ukrainian growers on the work they put into their orchards, while also being very competitively priced.

Switzerland

Swiss Apple Growers Can Store Fruits in Deep Sleep Even for Several Years (Feb 20)

Residents of Switzerland prefer locally produced products to imported ones, and apples are no exception, only about 5% are imported from abroad. Self-sufficiency is facilitated by large storage halls, where apples can “sleep” without loss of quality as much as necessary. In Switzerland, the apple is the absolute leader in the ranking of fruits: each Swiss eats on average about 16 kg of apples per year: raw, in the form of juice, or dried. Every year, Swiss gardeners harvest more than 30K MT of Gala. In second place is Golden Delicious, and in third place is Braebourne, says Renata Hodel. The most important area for apple cultivation is Eastern Switzerland with the canton of Thurgau. In addition to eastern Switzerland, apple trees are grown in the canton of Valais and the Lake Geneva region. Many varieties of locally produced apples are available year-round, and keeping an autumn harvest apple fresh in the spring requires proper storage.