The EBF represents the organic fruit sector
Europäisches Bioobst-Forum is an organisation for groups of organic fruit growers from all over Europe. The groups of organic fruit growers exchange information and share their experience on a regular basis and collect information on organic fruit production and the organic fruit market. Europäisches Bioobst-Forum coordinates this exchange of information.
Harvest forecast of European Biofruit Forum 2020
The General Assembly of European Biofruit Forum was planned for the end of June 2020 in Vinschgau in South Tyrol. Due to the SARS-Cov 2 prevention measures, the board decided in May 2020 to conduct a video conference which was organised by AMI.
The delegates of the organic producer groups from 18 European fruit growing regions and representatives of the extraordinary members met on 24 June 2020 via Skype. The focus of the meeting was the forecast of the European organic apple harvest and the necessary statutory regulations of the association.
The representatives of the member organisations reviewed the market development of the 2019/2020 season. Followed by a presentation by Helwig Schwartau from AMI, showing the estimates of the organic apple harvest 2020 based on the regional reports by the producer organisations.
The variable and extreme spring weather conditions, including numerous moments of frosts during the flowering period caused a very mixed picture. Northern France and Belgium expect a decline in the organic apple harvest in 2020 of 15% compared to 2019, whereas the pear harvest in Beligum is expected to be 40% higher than in the previous year.
The Netherlands and all German regions but the south are expecting an increased harvest as compared to 2019. This is partly due to the weak harvest in 2019, as a result of crop rotation, and due to the increase in area after conversion to organic production. In contrast, the Lake Constance region will not reach the harvest quantity of 2019 and is estimated to be 10% below the 2018 harvest.
In Austria, the spring frosts led to a deficit of 27% for organic table apples compared to 2019, but pear harvest is expected to be 70% above the quantities in 2019. Italy has recorded a significant increase compared to 2019. While South Tyrol is recording a 20% increase in quantity due to newly converted areas despite frost, newly converted areas in Trentino and Piedmont are leading to a 30% increase in supply from Italy compared to 2019. Gala and Golden varieties thus account for more than a third of the European organic apple range.
The 2020 harvest forecast of the European Biofruit Forum leads to a moderate increase in supply of 16% compared to the 2019 harvest, especially due to the newly added organic apple orchards. This increase in volume corresponds to the current market development and growth in demand for organic apples. According to current estimates, the harvest will begin about 10 days earlier than in 2019 and market coverage will thus be achieved from mid-August. Since the beginning of 2019, the demand for organic apples has risen sharply and has led to an unusually early sell-out by many suppliers.
The updated area survey of the EBF shows an area of more than 7000 ha of dessert apples in over 900 organic fruit farms of the EBF members for 2020. Due to the conversions already underway, the area will increase to about 7500 ha in 2020.
Lastly, in accordance with the statutes, the previous EBF board of directors was proposed to the delegates under agenda item 6 and unanimously confirmed in office.