The world WAPA association (World Apple and Pear Association) held its annual general assembly during the Fruit Logistica.
Mr Alessandro Dalpiaz is President of the association for year to come, and Mr. Kevin Moffitt vice-president.
WAPA published its annual report on the harvest expectations for apples and pears for the southern hemisphere. The data collected in Argentina, in Australia, in Brazil, in Chile, in New Zealand and in South Africa, show that the harvests should reach 5.167.000 tons for apples and 1.397.000 tons for pears.
For apples, a light 1 % increase on the harvest of 2009; the planned exports would follow the same trend.
For pears, the decrease would reach12 % with regard to 2009, and the exports should fall with 9 %.
As regards Europe, stocks were 3.650.000 tons for apples and 658.000 tons for pears on January 1st 2010, what represents a 5 % increase for apples and more than 50 % for pears with regard to stocks measured in the same period last year.
source : 21food.com