Apples: Record yields put pressure on prices in Europe - agri benchmark started analyses of tomato production

In Europe, apple prices are currently drastically declining. Agricultural economists organized in the agri benchmark Horticulture network discussed this situation during their second conference, which took place between 22nd and 26th of September 2014 in Northern Italy. 

During last years, apple producers normally obtained between 35 and 45 Cent per kilogramme. Conference participants reported that by mid of September the price for Gala had dropped to only 13 Cent per kilogramme and for Golden Delicious to 28 Cent per kilogramme at the wholesale market in Verona. Participants from Germany indicated that the price erosion is dramatic too, though on slightly higher level. The reason for this price drop is a record yield of apples, increasing European production from 11 to 12 million tonnes. Additionally, the Russian import ban aggravates the situation, since Polish producers, usually exporting about 700 000 tonnes of apples annually to Russia, now have to find market alternatives.

The aim of this year’s conference was to compare production systems, methods and production costs of apples, tomatoes and wine grapes and to identify factors causing changes over time. The basis for the analysis are models of wine grape, fruit and vegetable growing farms that are typical for the most important production regions in the participating countries.

The Thünen Institute of Farm Economics organized the second agri benchmark Horticulture conference in cooperation with two Italian partners. The first part of the conference took place at the Fondazione Edmund Mach in San Michele all’Adige, the second in the region Emilia-Romagna in collaboration with the Centro Ricerche Produzioni Vegetali (CRPV) from Cesena.

Since this year the analysis of tomato production has been newly incorporated into the agri benchmark Horticulture activities, we could welcome product experts from Tunisia and Algeria as new partners.

The recently published first agri benchmark Horticulture Report summarizes important results of our analyses.

It can be ordered via  Horticulture network website