W45: Weekly Apple Update
Europe
Some European Producers Refuse to Pick Apples
Due to the rapid increase in the price of electricity, unfavorable weather conditions that reduced the harvest and a lack of personnel, some apple growers have given up harvesting, according to the World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA). "The rapid rise in electricity prices is another problem. This can increase storage costs to unacceptable levels for manufacturers. Some producers may be forced not to harvest in order to avoid economic consequences," the statement said. The weather affected both the size and the total yield. WAPA revised its estimate of the apple harvest in Europe downwards to 12 million tons, suggesting that by mid-September 90,000 tons less apples will be harvested than expected at the beginning of August. This is mainly due to the fact that many countries, with the exception of Poland and the Czech Republic, have revised their ratings downwards, especially France, Italy and Spain.
China
The Price and the Quality of Red Fuji Apple Increases in 2022
In China, the price of red Fuji apples increased in 2022. This 2022, the volume of the harvested Fuji apple crop has decreased by 10-15% because of smaller planting areas and adverse weather conditions. The quality of the crop of Fuji apples is better than the last season in the main production areas in Shandong, China. The overall prices of the fuji apples are around USD 0.42-0.56/kg (RMB 3-4/KG) in W45, which is higher than the price in the same period in 2021. Also, the market demand has declined, and export transactions were significantly lower in 2022.
Italy
How Much Do Ordinary Apples Cost on the Italian Wholesale Market?
Club varieties are being introduced to the market by the largest consortia consolidating Italian horticultural cooperatives. But under market conditions, apples are also sold through the traditional supply chain. There are no wooden boxes in western wholesale markets. Apples are offered in cardboard boxes, shells or in reusable plastic. "Ordinary" apples, i.e. varieties that are neither club nor branded, are of course a bit cheaper. It should be remembered that in Italy, as well as in Western Europe, the wholesale trade model as we know it in Poland practically does not exist. Fruit growers selling their fruit in bulk are rare. Trade is mainly dealt with by professional wholesalers. For fruit over 80 millimeters in diameter, buyers usually have to pay EUR 1.00 per kilogram. 5-10 cents cheaper are the less known locally grown varieties. In particular, the prices are as follows:
- Golden Delicious / 80mm + / 4.69 PLN / kg
- Red Delicious / 85 - 90 mm / 4.69 PLN / kg
- Gala / 80 mm + / 4.69 PLN / kg
- Fuji / 80 - 90 mm / 4.69 PLN / kg
United States
Lowest Crop of Fresh Apples From Washington in 20 Years in 2022
In the United States, growers and packers report a short supply of fresh apples since 2019 from Washington state to fulfill demand. 2022 is forecasted to be the lowest crop of fresh apples in 20 years. The price for premium fresh apples of the Fuji variety from Washington for sizes 48, 56, 64, and 72 is around EXW USD 42 per 20kg box in W45.
Poland
Apple Storage and Thermal Imaging
In sick apples, the temperature rises, which can be used when checking storage facilities. Thermal imagers provide information more accurately and more diverse than the "electronic nose", according to Polish scientists. A group of researchers from the Department of Food Biotechnology and Microbiology of the Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, proposed a new way to optimize the storage of apples in their article published in the journal Horticulturae 2022 on the MDPI portal. “Apples are healthy and excellent in many ways. They can be consumed both in natural and processed form (juices, pomace, dried fruits). Selling fresh apples out of season is a great way to make money. The problem is how to keep the apples longer. Fresh apples are prone to infection by microorganisms such as yeast (Saccharomyces, Pichia, Kloeckera, Candida, etc.), mold (Penicillium, Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Botrytis, Fusarium, Mucor) and coliform bacteria. Filamentous fungi are cosmopolitans and oligotrophs.
USDA Estimates the Apple Harvest This Season in Poland and EU
According to the USDA, the estimated harvest was 4.4 million tonnes of apples in Poland this year , which is 8% more than last season. At the same time, Polish apples will constitute as much as 37% of all apples produced in the European Union. Americans point to good weather conditions for apple trees. Despite the drier periods in spring, the setting was good and this translates into a high yield this year. It amounted to 4.2 million tons and did not change in the following months. At the beginning of August, WAPA released a forecast for Poland at 4.495 million tonnes. However, in many EU countries the forecasts have been revised slightly downwards. The Association of Polish Fruit Growers also informed about the necessity of the correction. According to the organization, this year they will collect less than 4.0 million tons of apples in Poland.
The Rise in Prices for Vegetables and Fruits in Poland Is One of the Lowest in the World
According to the Main Statistical Office (GUS), food prices in Poland have risen significantly. However, the smallest price increase was observed among vegetables and fruits (8.8%), and this dynamics is perhaps the slowest in the world. The apple fell in price, for which it was possible to pay 6.6% less.
Netherlands
Dutch Growers Concerned About the Situation on the Apple Market
Dutch grower Johan Stigter is concerned about the apple market. He mentions the geopolitical situation in Europe and high inflation as factors increasing the uncertainty of sales. After the smooth harvest, the orchard decided to sell most of his fruit. “Taking into account the developments in the world and events in Russia, we chose security,'' he said. He expects pears to sell better than apples, but believes prices will not increase until April 1. "Rising costs are another hurdle for growers," notes Johan. The planter pays almost four times as much for fertilizers, 12% more for plant protection products. Work has also become more expensive. "Not to mention the rapidly rising cost of electricity for cooling," he adds. It is difficult to pass costs into selling prices.
Turkey
State-Supported Orchards Increased Apple Production
Due to the new apple orchards established in Hakkari with the support of the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, a significant increase was achieved in apple production in the city. In the city, where agriculture and animal husbandry is one of the most important sources of livelihood, apple farming has gained importance due to the support for the development of fruit growing. With the projects carried out, the presence of 239 thousand apple trees in the city in 2018 increased to 500 thousand, and apple production increased from 4 thousand 350 tons to 8 thousand tons.
There are many apple varieties (Starking, Golden, Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, Amasya musket, Piraziz, Demir, Sınap, Kara Süt, Cotton, red, etc.) grown in Giresun, and there are approximately 167,000 fruiting apple trees. More than 5 thousand tons of apple production is provided. In October and November, although a sweet winter preparation rush begins in the villages of some families whose work is done in the garden and field, most of the trees full of apples are left to rot. The couple of Sebahat and Ali Saim Sarısaray, visited by the technical staff of Giresun Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, in Çavuşoğlu village of Giresun, transform the apples they grow into molasses with traditional methods after a tiring hazelnut season. With the apple molasses offered to the market with a kilogram price of 150 TL, they both provide income for the family economy and prepare for the winter season for their own needs. There is no added sugar in apple molasses, it turns into molasses with its own fruit sugar.
53 Thousand Tons of Harvest Is Expected in Göksun Apple
Expressing that there are 1,200,000 fruit trees in the district, Göksun Agriculture and Forestry District Manager Kıraç said that the Göksun apple attracts attention from both domestic and foreign markets. Saying that the apples grown in the district are mostly exported, Kıraç said, "Our district of Göksun has become an important apple production center due to its geographical location and unique climate characteristics. We have an annual apple production yield of 53 thousand tons throughout the district. We expect the same harvest this year." he said. Producer Cavit Mert noted that they are very happy that the apples they grow attract attention from other countries, and that the aroma and taste of Göksun apples is completely different.
Spain
Asturias Imports 12,000 Tons of Apples Due to the Poor Harvest
Asturias will have to import more than 12,000 tons of apples this year to compensate for a poor harvest that is insufficient to supply the demand for cider in its different varieties. The vecería, as the phenomenon is called by which apple trees produce less in even years, has added to a very dry summer that encouraged the proliferation of worms and other diseases, causing "one of the worst harvests" for years. This year a harvest of around seven thousand tons is expected, far from the 35,000 tons registered last year, sources in the sector have informed EFE. In order to produce the 35 million bottles of Asturian cider in its different varieties necessary to supply the demand, the winemakers will have to buy apples and must in other regions of Spain and Europe.
Moldova
Moldova Will Conduct a Study on the Eco-Conversion of Apple Orchards
“From November 2022 to February 2023, with the support of the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer Program implemented by CNFA, a feasibility study will be carried out to transfer apple orchards in the Republic of Moldova to an organic growing system,” writes Luminita Crivoy in the article. The need for this study existed for a long time, but became especially relevant due to the difficulties that arose in the export of Moldovan apples to the Russian market after the embargo was introduced and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict began. Approximately 97 percent of the supply of Moldovan apples was previously destined for the Russian market, and some of them were redirected to the EU countries, which in this regard doubled the established quota for this product from the Republic of Moldova, as well as to the countries of the Middle East. The Republic of Moldova is currently among the top ten exporters of apples in the world with an annual production of about 500,000 tons, obtained from 56,000 hectares of orchards, of which about 20 percent are super-intensive.
Harvest of Apples in Moldova for 2022
In Moldova, the harvesting of varietal apples for sale on the fresh market has been completed. This week, in some orchards in the northern regions of the country, the apple is still harvested, but almost in full - for industrial processing. Apparently, this is a maximum of several thousand tons, no more. Taking into account the fact that the latest apple will not greatly affect the overall situation, farmer organizations sum up the operational results of the harvesting campaign. Many experts agree that the production of marketable apples in Moldova this year amounted to about 400 thousand tons. That is, the pessimistic markdowns of the 2022 harvest turned out to be more accurate than the optimistic estimates, EastFruit reports. From the first month of summer in Moldova, the forecast for the apple harvest fluctuated in a very wide range - from 380 to 485 thousand tons tended to the "upper bar". Last year, according to statistics, apple production in the country amounted to 665 thousand tons, 2020 - 430 thousand tons, 2019 - 610 thousand tons, 2018 - 660 thousand tons. The fact that the harvesting of high-quality apples was completed had practically no effect on the level of wholesale prices on the domestic market. Over the past two weeks, the price of a high-quality apple of the Gala group has grown by only an average of 0.5-1.0 lei/kg - up to 7-7.5 lei/kg ($0.35-0.36/kg). Closer to mid-November, traders are counting on the activation of exports of these products to Romania, the countries of the Middle East and North Africa.
Brazil
Marketing of Apples Normalizes in the Sorting Regions in Brazil
This week (11/07 to 11/11), apple sales were good in the southern sorting regions. According to agents consulted by Hortifruti/Cepea, the good pace is due to the normalization of access on highways and the low supply. Thus, what they had available, they were able to sell without difficulty. In this scenario, prices are sustained at good levels. The Gala 110 Cat 1 was sold at R$ 122.3/box of 18 kg in the average of the regions, an increase of 6% compared to the previous week. Only Fuji had some post-harvest problems, leaving buyers worried about its quality. Thus, the gala achieved a greater flow of sales. For the next few weeks, agents expect the low stock to continue guaranteeing good prices.
India
Imports of Turkish Apples Arrive in India in W45
In W45, Turkey RD apples started to arrive to Bengaluru, Chennai, Nhava Sheva, and Delhi markets. In W45, wholesale rates ranged from USD 29-31/box of 18kg. Premium quality Turkish RD (Gulbudak/Cekok), are being purchased by Indian importers at a CIF price of USD 18-19.5/box.
Australia
Us Apple Imports Could Risk Biosecurity
Brandon Long Queensland apple growers want the looming importation of US apples into Australia stopped until more work is done to allay pest and disease fears. In late October, the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry recommended the import of commercially produced fresh apples from the Pacific Northwest of the US into Australia be permitted if they meet the biosecurity import conditions. Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said he was confident Australia's biosecurity system was up to the task of keeping out any exotic pests or disease. Granite Belt Growers Association president and apple and strawberry grower Nathan Baronio is not convinced about US apple imports. Picture Eastern Colour However, Granite Belt Growers Association president and apple and strawberry grower Nathan Baronio wants further assurances.
South Korea
Chungju Apple Entered the Taiwanese Market, Exported 200 Tons This Year
According to Chungju City on the 7th, it plans to export 200 tons of Fuji apples harvested this year to Taiwan with the Chungbuk Horticultural Cooperative Federation. The county and Wonhyup held a ceremony to commemorate the shipment of the first 20 tons of export volume at the distribution center in Chungju on the 4th. The shipments on this day will be sold at the Taipei First Wholesale Market. A city official said, "Chungju apples, which have been exported steadily since 2011, have captured the taste of Taiwanese consumers. We will do our best to develop more overseas markets."
Egypt
We Are Not the Only Ones Counting on Egypt
The figures show that Egypt is a significant market for many European apple exporters. Unfortunately, this market is strategic not only for Polish apples. And as we know, today Egyptian importers focus on grain. In the 2021/22 season, the Egyptians imported 302,268 tons of apples from the European Union. This means that they were the largest importer of apples from the EU. Great Britain is in second place. In this case, imports of apples amounted to 195 737 tonnes during the same period.
Colombia
Prices of Granny Smith and Royal Galas Apples Increased in Colombia in W45
In W45, the price of Granny Smith and Royal Galas apples has increased in 25 of the 36 wholesale markets in Colombia. Some factors affecting the increasing prices of apples include the low volumes of Chilean apples entering the Colombian market and the rising exchange rate of USD/COP. In W45, the wholesale price of Royal Gala apples stood between USD 1.58-1.92/kg (COP 7,544-9,147/kg) in Armenia and Bogotá.
