Belgium pear market slows due to warm weather

The pear market in Belgium is experiencing a slow start due to unseasonably warm weather. Typically, a shift to cooler temperatures in October drives increased consumer demand, but temperatures remaining near 20 degrees Celsius have resulted in a quiet market.

Traders at the Fruit Attraction event in Madrid noted the lack of momentum. Bert Morren of the fruit company Morren highlighted that smaller pear sizes are facing significant economic pressure. This season, a larger portion of the harvest is failing to reach size 60, with size 55 expected to be the primary size.

There is a substantial price gap between sizes; while size 50 is priced at approximately 25 cents, size 55 fetches about 50 cents. Morren noted that these prices are currently insufficient to cover production costs, suggesting that size 55 would require a price of at least 60 cents to be viable.