Market Watch
Prices have shown improvement, but there are some challenges in making sure fruit is handled properly.
T
he good news is that apple prices remain up from the previous two years, even though that won’t
necessarily translate into better returns to growers. Prices on Ambrosias and Royal Galas
in particular have stayed firm, and higher than the last couple of years, reports Don Westcott, director of grower services for B.C. Tree Fruits. Fruit quality this year was good in
terms of size, despite the slow start to the season with a cool, late spring. A more moderate summer helped fruit grow well, not slowed by high temperatures as is usually the case in Okanagan mid-summer heat. However, he said there have been
some cosmetic problems, particularly with Macs. In fact, he said there has been a struggle with many apple varieties this year. Westcott’s theory is that it has to do
with cell development. A cold spring can retard cell development yet the cooler summer encouraged more growth of individual cells. Larger cells are more susceptible to bruising, he feels.
Despite that, the holding quality of
this year’s fruit is good. There just has to be care taken during packing, he added.
“Handling is incredibly important,”
he commented. Westcott said it’s very important that growers concentrate on the varieties they’re able to grow well. That’s where the industry needs to focus. It’s a complex, difficult problem to solve, he commented. And, he said, he realizes that even if
it’s understood, some growers simply can’t afford to do it. Some growers are challenged by their varieties and they can’t afford to replant to different varieties. However, he said education of individual growers is helpful. “It empowers growers to grow their crops as well as is possible.”
6 British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Spring 2012
By Judie Steeves ‘Cosmetics’ a quality issue with apples In addition, each variety does best
being managed a bit differently than another, but it takes time and focus to figure out what works best with each one.
Overall, however, he says growers are
doing a better job with their orchards. “Our growers are pretty progressive,”
he commented. This year’s pear crop varied, with overall quality good and clean and it
sized well, but with a medium-sized crop of Anjous and a smaller Bartlett crop.
Prices of Anjour pears held up better
than last year, despite slower movement because of a large Bartlett crop in the Pacific Northwest. Our consumption of pears is low on
the whole compared to that in Europe, but he couldn’t say if that was changing or not.
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