Greece pear exports steady despite significant hail damage

The Greek pear season is facing a complex outlook following a severe hailstorm on July 24. While initial growing conditions were excellent, leading to a total harvest volume approximately 30% higher than last year, the storm caused significant damage to specific varieties.

Paris Karastergios, import-export coordinator at Karastergiou P. Bros S. A., reported that Santa Maria and Blanquilla pear varieties suffered an average damage rate of about 30%. Because hail protection nets are not widely used in Greek pear cultivation, the industry has had to absorb these losses. Consequently, despite the higher overall production, final export volumes are expected to remain similar to those of the previous year.

Market demand has been varied. There was notable demand in Israel due to low local production, while other traditional markets saw lower demand, likely due to high volumes of stone fruit putting pressure on the market. As summer fruits decline, experts expect demand to increase in the autumn, particularly in markets such as Jordan, Italy, and Israel, with potential expansion into Saudi Arabia and Oman.