Conference pear market faces stagnation and pricing pressure

The Conference pear market is experiencing a period of unusual inactivity. Despite October typically bringing cooler weather that stimulates demand, market activity remains low. Industry experts, including Bert Morren of Fruitbedrijf Morren, noted during the Fruit Attraction event in Madrid that the market has been unexpectedly quiet.

Prolonged warm temperatures, with forecasts remaining around 20°C, are cited as a potential cause for the lack of consumer interest. While all sizes are being sold at auction, prices have been disappointing, particularly for smaller fruit.

A significant challenge this season is the high volume of small-caliber pears. Unlike previous years where larger sizes like 60 and 65 were common, the majority of this year's harvest is below caliber 60. This shift is putting financial pressure on producers; for instance, caliber 55 pears are selling for approximately 50 cents, which Morren suggests is insufficient to cover costs and should ideally be closer to 60 cents.