Stocks of French apples are lower at this point in the season than last due to a reduced harvest and heavier sendings to the processing sector. But coloration and currency issues could combine to favour the UK market.
"The main reason for the decrease is the high summer temperatures," said Jacques Vanoye, president of the French apple marketing commission. "But these also affected fruit-coloration. On Gala we have less colourful fruit which can make it difficult to market.
"The UK market prefers fruit with 50 per cent coloration, but other export markets such as the Middle and Far East want more highly coloured fruit and so we have had to send more Gala to the processing sector."
The weak dollar is also affecting France's sendings to its more distant overseas markets. "In the US they have had one of the lowest crops for 20 years," said Vanoye, " but the currency situation is bad for us and makes it hard for us to compete with US fruit in Asian and South American markets." The situation is all the tougher as France's main export variety is now Gala of which has struggled to match the coloration profile demanded by many of these markets.
How long the French season will run in the UK this year is not clear yet. "We don't know yet about the southern hemisphere crops, nor what will happen with the currency situation," said Vanoye. "But it should be possible to sell at least until May or June."
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