89 - Eurofresh Distribution

StoNe fruit/fruta De hueSo
Optimism and innovation
at the start of the season
The 19th Europêch’ struck the note of optimism and innovation
prevailing at the start of the 2007 season
The Europêch’2007 international
forum held on 26 April in Perpignan
broadcast some encouraging
signals. Laurent Favel, chairman
of the Rhone-Mediterranean Basin
growers’ organisation, explained:
«The quality and quantity potential
of the European crop has already
reached its optimum point. From
now on we are entering a new phase
in which the main issues are to do
with innovation». A crucial theme at
the heart of this year’s forum …
The current 2007 peach, nectarine
and clingstone peach crop estimates
are forecasting around 4 million
tonnes, a similar level to 2006,
with clingstone peaches accounting
for just over 1 million tonnes, as in
2006. Nonetheless the crop has shifted
eastwards because of a glut in
Greece (+22%), which will compensate
for the Spanish shortfall (-10%).
Currently, the French crop is earlier
than last year and estimated at
around 390,000 tonnes (-3%), 85%
of its potential. If there is no major
weather problem, Italy is forecasting
a potential crop of around 1.6 million
tonnes, close on the 2006 figure.
«These 2007 forecasts lead to expectations
of a certain fluidity on the
markets, particularly since the Greek
strategy is moving towards exports
to Eastern Europe, particularly Russia»,
indicated Laurent Favel.
The estimated European apricot crop
potential for 2007 is around 515,000
t, 13% less than 2006, largely because
of the sharp fall in Spain (-
46%). «In apricots, it is France that
is setting the tone», explained Eric
Europe: 2007 apricot forecasts
Italy 207,000
Greece ,200
Spain 71,9
France 1 ,900
ApRIl
MAY
2 0 0 7
Hostalnou of the Pyrenées Orientales
farmers’ union. The second-ranking
country after Italy (c. 200,000
t), France is the only country to have
varied its variety range. With a little
over 165,000 t, around 6% less than
last season, it is back to an average
crop size. Greece on the other hand,
is back to its optimum potential with
around 68,000 t (+14%).
Innovate in order to carry on
Whether in growing/packing, logistics/transport
or retail/consumption,
innovation is a driving force
that creates value, the end objective
of which is to keep the farming sector
alive. According to Alain Bergé,
chairman of the French sector asso-
Europe: 2007 peach / nectarine forecasts (tonnes)
freestone p. nectarine clingstone Total (freestone
p. + nectarine)
Italy 7 ,300 7 , 0 12 ,100 1, 2,7 0
Greece 2 7,200 9 ,200 1 , 00 3 , 00
Spain 2 0,71 3 , 1 17,3 0 2 ,22
France 197,300 1 7, 00 7,200 3 ,100
Total Europe 1, 93, 1 1, 1 ,9 1,0 ,1 0 2,90 , 7
EUROFRESH
DISTRIBUTION
89
ciation Interfel, «the product must
remain central to the innovation
in order to protect the growers’ returns».
Consumers and activists,
keeping a sector going and product
accessibility are other examples of
strategic objectives that can motivate
innovation. Hauliers, present
for the first time at Europêch’, also
emphasised the need to innovate.
Waterborne freight and railways are
routes that are now being considered,
particularly in a context where
concerns have been expressed
about the products’ capacity to bear
the freight costs.
Prospects from now to 2012
Innovation also means looking
ahead. This was the purpose of the
production workshop that presented
a long-term analysis of the European
orchards up to 2010.
Stability in Italy but significant
growth in nectarine and flat peach
growing in Spain are forecast. In
France the orchards are expected to
shrink by about 27% by about 2012.
This reduction in surface area would
bring the French crop potential down
from the 400,000 t of 2006 to around
the 305,000 t level.