From Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 June, Interpera 2025 took place in Hasselt. Stakeholders from the entire European pear sector gathered in Belgium for the first time in Interpera's history. Organised by VBT and ARELFH, the event not only reflected on past developments but also offered valuable insights and direction for the future.
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© Jannick Flach | FreshPlaza.com
Following the opening by Flemish Agriculture Minister Jo Brouns, who praised the sector's three core pillars: Research, promotion, and international cooperation, a panel reviewed the past season. While Europe typically produces around 2 million tonnes of pears annually, the 2023–2024 season yielded only about 1.7 million tonnes. Across countries, climate change, rising costs, and declining consumption emerged as recurring themes. Many regions expressed concern over shrinking production volumes, particularly in Italy and Spain. Conversely, the Netherlands and Belgium appear to be benefiting from these trends, reporting slightly increased production.
The Conference pear remains by far the most dominant variety in Europe. In the Netherlands and Belgium, it accounts for nearly half of total pear production, while other varieties have remained stable or declined. In southern Europe, Spain and Italy in particular, there is more variety and experimentation. Alongside Conference and Williams, growers are actively exploring new varieties to break monoculture patterns and better align with shifting market demands. Even in Belgium, concerns are growing about overdependence on one variety, prompting increased interest in alternatives such as Sweet Sensation and Qtee.
© VBT
Countries at a glance
The Netherlands and Belgium
In the Netherlands, the harvest was about 10% lower than in 2023. Hail and other weather issues led to quality problems, making the start of the season challenging, especially due to the presence of leftover stock from the previous harvest. Despite this, prices recovered later in the season and continued to perform well, making it a reasonably satisfactory season overall. Belgium faced greater difficulties, with just 60% of a normal harvest collected. While skin quality was poor, the flesh quality was good. There were initial concerns about storability, but the pears have held up well. Domestic consumption in Belgium has been steadily declining, from 2.2 kg per person in 2020 to just 1.74 kg in 2024. Despite a strong export focus, Kris Jans called on Belgians to show more national pride and opt for locally grown pears.
Southern Europe: Italy, Spain, and Portugal
Italy's production showed improvement compared to recent years. Following a steady decline driven by climate change and structural challenges, the country is now approaching normal levels again, even if it hasn't yet reached full capacity. Quality was deemed satisfactory. Export volumes have also grown, and expectations for the coming years are positive. In Spain, the season was exceptionally difficult. Frost, hail, and extreme heat wiped out nearly half the Conference harvest, forcing imports to fill the gap. This scarcity led to record prices, at times reaching €4 per kilo, too high for many Spanish consumers, resulting in a drop in annual consumption to just 3.8 kg per person.
© Jannick Flach | FreshPlaza.com
In Portugal, the harvest was smaller but remained stable. Rocha remains by far the most important variety. Quality was generally good, and domestic demand remained strong. Nevertheless, growers are increasingly concerned about rising costs and emerging diseases. There is interest in Rocha mutants and more sustainable cultivation methods.
France
France recorded a relatively stable season with a total production of 137,000 tonnes. Quality was satisfactory, though the domestic market is not self-sufficient. The country's broad mix of varieties is seen as both a strength and a challenge. On the one hand, it allows for extended availability through staggered harvesting; on the other, it increases demands on marketing and promotion, particularly early in the season. Meanwhile, consumption is also under pressure.
Bottlenecks and trends
Similar problems were reported across almost all countries. Labour is both more expensive and harder to find, energy prices remain high, and packaging costs have risen, partly due to environmental regulations, such as the plastic ban. Climate change is leading to increasingly unpredictable harvests and calls for more adaptable growing systems. Grower ageing and succession issues were noted in several regions. Many countries are also seeking greater varietal diversity.
The way forward
Despite the challenges, there are clear opportunities ahead. There is growing demand for new pear varieties that better suit consumer preferences, offering convenience, better taste, appropriate sizing, and greater diversity. Varieties such as Fred, Qtee, and Sweet Sensation are being promoted as alternatives or complements to Conference. Meanwhile, automation is gaining ground, and staggered harvests could help alleviate labour shortages. Panelists also stressed the importance of better marketing and consumer communication.
© VBT
Outlook
After reviewing the past season, attention turned to the outlook for the upcoming one. A more detailed analysis is expected later, but early signs suggest that Spain and Italy, in particular, are recovering from a difficult year, with higher crop forecasts. Spain is anticipating a striking 31% increase, while Belgium expects a 25% rise compared to last year's disappointing harvest. The Netherlands also foresees a larger crop, though no specific figures are available yet. In contrast, France expects a decline, while Portugal is forecasting a similar volume to last year.
Visit
After the forward-looking session, Kris Jans, Dany Bylemans, and Filip Fontaine each presented on their respective organisations, BelOrta, the Euphrin Workgroup, and VLAM. The day concluded with a technical programme, offering two parallel sessions: one on cultivation challenges and the other on postharvest solutions. The day wrapped up with well-deserved refreshments. For the true enthusiasts, Interpera continued into the next day with a visit to BelOrta's hard fruit sorting centre and PCFruit's research station. It was a full and well-received programme, drawing positive feedback from many attendees.
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For more information:
Interpera 2025
www.interpera.org