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Marc Peyres, Export Sales Manager, Blue Whale:
“Germany is an important market for us” EXPORTING: A TRADITION AT BLUE WHALE “We have always exported a lot. The fact that we have been able to do so in the first part of the season allows us to reach a balance before tackling the final leg of the season. We still have some varieties with larger stocks for which we will have years of COVID-19, which had a very ben- to extend the season, but overall we are eficial impact on apple consumption. Peo- ending the season in a way that is nothing ple at home consumed more fresh fruit like last year.” The season promises to be and vegetables overall. Now we’re having more difficult, but should end in a rather trouble getting them to eat fresh fruit out- “decent” way. side the home. This is probably something we will have to work on in the future. This “During the last season, we still lacked decrease in demand, amplified by smaller export markets, especially in Northern apple sizes, is not without consequences Europe, which had a large harvest, Germafor the end of the campaign: “Since the ny in particular, and in Southern Europe beginning of the season, we have been car- such as Spain and Portugal, which are rying European stocks, and we found our- important export markets for us.” Diffiselves with large stocks of French niche culties in exporting can be explained by varieties on March 1st.” a higher inflation rate than in France, a decrease in consumption, an increase in Although producers would happily forget local production, and smaller sizes. the 2021 campaign to focus on the coming season, the cold weather announced this GERMANY: A COMPETITIVE MARKET week makes them worry about reliving Although for a long time Germany was the same situation as last year. not a priority export market for Blue
Founded in 1950, Blue Whale is a group of fruit growers with nearly 300 producers in the South, East, and West, the Loire Valley, and the Alps. A major player in the national and international apple market, with exports to 70 countries, Blue Whale also sells plums, pears, grapes, and kiwis.
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fter the frosts of 2021, Blue Whale was concerned about a possible drop in production. In the end, the season was rather satisfactory, with limited incidents offset by a large crop. “Our biggest productions are located in the South-West and are protected, so for most of our producers, 2021 has been a big season in terms of harvest,” explains Marc Peyres, export sales manager at Blue Whale. Nevertheless, the cold spring affected the quality of the fruits. “Volumes were therefore pretty satisfactory, but it was mainly the quality of the harvest that was impacted. We started the season with a significant number of small sizes and skin defects.”
As far as consumption is concerned, the campaign has also been uneven: “We must not forget that we were coming out of two
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