European Fruit Magazine - EN - No.6/2023

Crop protection, residues and quality

A look behind the scenes at breeder Benoît Escande

EU apricot crop

Well-considered tractor use saves much diesel

Plants can talk…

since 1923

LODDER

FRUIT-TREE-ROOTSTOCKS PORTE-GREFFES-ARBRES-FRUITIER

® made in Germany!

boomkwekerijen gebr. janssen b.v.

Nederweert, The Netherlands

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SYSTEM-REVOLUTION-VIBRO

THE POWERFLEX NET

■ Exceptionally emptying through „Powerflex“ vibration

■ Optimized protection against scatter damage by a centered “funnel- emptying“

■ Maximum protection of the net by the flat “bungy plakette position”

■ Low weight load due to optimal hail emptying. This causes a highly efficient anchor and wire system relief

■ Double lifetime of the net is realistic

■ Ideal solution also by net changing

LIST OF CONTENTS

COLOPHON

Website: www.fruitmagazine.eu

Publisher:

PLANTPRESS Sp. z o.o. ul. Królowej Jadwigi 262 a 30-218 Kraków Poland www.plantpress.pl office@fruitmagazine.eu

Design / DTP: LeafMedia Krzysztof Pilch Multikolor Mariusz Bibik

Edited by: FruitMedia B.V.

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NL- 4197 BS Buurmalsen

Nederland

Gerard Poldervaart

Phone: +31 (0)6 180 54231 or e-mail: gerard.poldervaart@fruitmagazine.eu

Plantpress/ Adam Paradowski e-mail: adam.paradowski@plantpress.pl

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Information: Gerard Poldervaart, Phone: +31 (0)6 180 54231 or e-mail: gerard.poldervaart@fruitmagazine.eu

ISSN: 1689-8583

Circulation: 3.500

This magazine has been carefully compiled by the authors and the publisher. However, the publisher accepts no liability for damage of whatever nature, resulting from the actions taken by readers based on its content. Furthermore, the publisher wishes to point out that products mentioned in this magazine are not available and/or allowed in all countries. The publisher also wishes to point out to the reader that he/she should always adhere to the legislation and regulations applicable in his/her own country.

Nothing from this publication may be copied, stored in electronic systems or made public without the prior written approval of the publisher

Break-even prices

During the past year, production costs for a kilo of apples, pears, cherries, or whatever kind of fruit have risen strongly. Labour, energy and practically all raw materials and means of production became more expensive. Buyers, often supermarkets, were hardly or not at all prepared to meet growers halfway in the from of higher prices to cover increased production costs. The result: substantially negative operating results.

Production costs will further rise in the years to come. The south of France and Spain, were afflicted by extreme drought during the past few months, sometimes resulting in high production losses for growers who were not able to irrigate their trees. This is only one of many examples of the results that climate change has for fruit growing. The costs of covering yourself as a grower against the consequences of climate change (irrigation, hail nets, insurance) will rise further. The same goes for crop protection. Due to the disappearance of efficacious chemical products, growers are forced to apply weaker and more expensive products more frequently.

The solution to strongly rising labour costs is coming in the form of the robotics for labour intensive activities during cultivation and grading. The first tractors with no people on them and completely autonomous robots are already deployed at a number of farms to carry out crop protection. Developments go fast. Robots to prune fruit trees and to harvest are being developed and will be commercially available in a couple of years’ time. This does not mean, however, that as a result of robotics in the cultivation phase, production costs will

fall too. The financial advantage of labour savings will be largely absorbed by the higher costs for the machinery.

In my opinion, there is only one single answer to the strongly rising production costs: sales prices must rise considerably. For a number of products, such as organic fruit and concept varieties, this has already been achieved in the past few years. However, these products only represent a few percentage points of the total European apple and pear production and even much less of the production of stone fruit. No, one way or another, the prices for all fruit will have to rise and not only for niche products such as organic fruit and concept varieties.

During the past couple of years, the big supermarket chains under pressure from environmental organisations, have raised the bar for environmentally friendly production and biodiversity higher and higher. At the same time, they are hardly interested in whether growers can make a living or not. The present situation makes me more and more often think of the fairtrade bananas of some decades ago. By means of a quality mark, consumers could see that the banana growers – later followed by coffee and cocoa farmers – in Central and South America, received a break-even price for their produce. Meanwhile, the fairtrade label can also be found on tropical fruit, for instance. The quality mark (www.fairtrade.net) does not only guarantee a fair price for the farmer, but also that he or she deals in a responsible manner with the environment and offers labourers a proper wage. Wouldn’t it be about time too for fairtrade apples, pears and stone fruit in the supermarket?

Gerard Poldervaart

COOPERATIVE OGM LAUNCHES BRAND FOR MEMBERS WITH DIRECT SALES

The OGM sales organisation (Obstgrossmarkt Mittelbaden) in the southwest of Germany, is going to support fruit growers that directly sell their fruit to consumers with the new brand Schwarzwaldobst. The name refers to the region where OGM is established: in the immediate neighbourhood of the Black Forest. OGM mainly sells its members’ fruit to supermarkets in Germany. About 30 members of the cooperative sell part of their production via their own shops or

stands at a weekly market directly to the consumer. With the introduction of the Schwarzwaldobst brand, the cooperative wants to kill two birds with one stone: generate more familiarity with regionally grown fruit and support their mem-

THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND IS LOSING ITS LUSTRE

The Garden of England, as the county in the southeast of Britain has been called for centuries, is losing ever more of its lustre. The international Reuters press agency, some weeks ago, reported on the problems British fruit growers are faced with. The biggest problem: supermarkets are paying too little for British growers’ fruit. According to a grower interviewed by Reuters, due to the strongly risen costs, the price for his apples should at least be 20% higher than one year earlier. However, his buyers, the big British supermarkets are only willing to pay 0.8% more. Other factors that are making things difficult for the English fruit growers are climate change and the scarcity of labour to pick all the fruit. After their exit from the EU is has become extra difficult to attract foreign labour.

Great Britain imports 85% of its fruit needed. Nevertheless, British supermarket chains obviously rather opt for cheap imported fruit than for supporting British growers. The retailers say, that in a time of strongly rising costs of living, they want to keep costs for the consumer as low as possible.

The grower interviewed will this year grub 80% of his orchards. He is going to grow wine grapes as an alternative,

bers with sales. Via the website www. schwarzwaldobst.de, consumers are informed in what shops the Schwarzwaldobst is for sale. At the moment of writing, however, mid-May, only three points of sale were mentioned here. The Schwarzwaldobst logo looks rather traditional: a young woman, with a hat with fruit on top.

EUROPE WANTS MORE VEGETABLES, FRUIT AND DAIRY PRODUCTS AT SCHOOLS

The European Parliament (EP) wants vegetables fruits and dairy products

open a farm shop and on the land of the former orchards, he wants to keep chickens and pigs.

Due to rising costs and a shortage of labour, it is getting more and more difficult for British fruit growers to keep their heads above water. Shutterstock

The logo of the new Schwarzwaldobst brand Obstgrossmarkt Mittelbaden

to more easily find their way to school canteens. For years there has been a regulation to make it more attractive for schools to buy vegetables, fruits and dairy products. Only 20% of schools in the EU are availing themselves of this opportunity at the moment. EU politicians in Strasbourg think that number should rise. According to the EP, more money must be made available for that regulation.

For many school governing bodies and farms, local regulations are a threshold to taking part in the programme. Therefore, the EP is asking EU countries to simplify the rules. The European Commission is working on a review of the regulations, but it is not clear, whether more money will be made available. (Source: www.nieuweoogst.nu)

GREATER RISK OF SPRING FROST DUE TO GLOBAL WARMING?

The development of trees and plants is strongly affected by weather conditions. Global warming causes a markedly earlier development of fruit trees, which makes the trees susceptible to spring frost earlier in the year, concludes the German meteorological service DWD. A comparison of phenological and meteorological data shows that in spite of global warming, it is not possible to assume by definition there will be a fall in spring frost damage early in the year. What is more: in the recent past, in certain regions, the danger of damage due to spring frost even increased. The DWD studied phenological and meteorological data from the period 19612020. This showed that due to the earlier development of the trees and the reduction in the number of times spring frost occurs, the risk of damage due to spring frost has changed during the past few decades. The chance of temperatures lower than -2 °C in the period between 1 April and 15 May has become smaller. In the period 1961-1990, the chance of

temperatures lower than -1 °C on 21 April, for instance, was still at almost 30% on average. During the past 30 years this was 20% on average. At the same time, cherry trees, for instance, flowered 9 days earlier during the past

few decades than in the period 19611990. This made the chance of spring frost during the flowering of cherry trees throughout Germany rise from 19 to 27% on average. (Source: Deutsche Wetterdienst/Fruchthandel.de)

MAXIMUM 10% MORTALITY IN BEE POPULATION AFTER USE OF CROP PROTECTION PRODUCTS

The European authority for food safety (EFSA) proposes, when assessing new crop protection products, to tighten up the effect on bees. Or to be more concrete; when applying a crop protection product, a maximum of 10% of a bee colony is allowed to die.

According to the EU regulation, crop protection products can only be authorised when a risk assessment has shown that there is no unacceptable impact on the environment. This also goes for non-targeted specious, such as bees.

The EFSA is coming up with proposals for a review of the existing guide -

lines. For honey bees, the authority has reached an agreement with specialists, on a maximum permitted level of the reduction of the size of the colony of 10% after exposure to crop protection products. For bumblebees and solitary bees, more study is needed to arrive at a definable threshold level. The EU member states still have to consider this EFSA proposal. On 13 June, the authority will hold a digital information meeting to explain the current situation. More information can be found via the QR code shown. (Source: www.nieuweoogst.nu)

When assessing new crop protection products, the European authority (EFSA) wants more attention for the impact on bees. Pixabay

Hans Scholten

Fruit growing consultant in France

Fewer apricots in Europe due to small Italian crop

During the annual Medfel trade fair, at the end of April in French Perpignan, the forecasts for the coming European apricot crop were announced. French growers hopefully look forward to the coming season, but not without fear.

For years now, the Medfel trade fair has been the location where the crop forecasts for the largest European producing regions of apricots, peaches and pavia peaches are announced. As a reaction to measures of the French government to reduce the import of Spanish peaches, the Spaniards boycott peach crop forecasts. Because Spain is the biggest producer of peaches in Europe, it makes no sense to make forecasts for the production of peaches without taking the Spanish crop into consideration and therefore, at the Medfel, only apricots were talked about.

The situation for peaches and pavia peaches in Europe can be compared, however, with apricots. This year there were significantly fewer visitors at the trade fair from outside France. This may mean that without the peaches forecasts the trade fair has lost part of its value.

Four countries

The four most important producing countries of peaches and apricots in Europe are Greece, Italy, France and Spain. If each country is at its optimum production level, prices are often low, because more is produced then than the market can handle. Often, in a certain production region, there is a reduction of production due to frost or hail, however. This is also the case this year. Greece had a very mild winter, as a result of which many varieties did not have enough chilling hours. This results in irregular flowering, which will mean a reduction of the Greek apricot crop which is expected to work out at 76,000 tonnes (see table 1). This is practically the same volume as in 2022, when the crop was also small. Moreover, Greek growers are troubled by a great shortage of labour, as a result of which orchards are less well taken care of.

Smaller fruit size

During the past few years, in Spain, the apricot crop has suffered a lot from frost. This year there was only frost in the south of the country, which impacts on the earliest varieties. Considering the small cultivation surface area there, this hardly affects total Spanish production. However, in Spain too, there have not been enough chilling hours and production is not at a normal level. Spanish growers this year expect to harvest almost 99,000 tonnes of apricots, while potential pro -

The apricot crop in the four most important West European producing countries is expected to be 7% smaller than last year. Shutterstock

Europêch’

The crop estimate for apricots was announced during the Medfel trade fair on 26 and 27 April in French Perpignan. The data come from the Europêch’ organisation.

duction is 140,000 tonnes. In the most important production areas of the country, there is a great shortage of water, however, as a result of which it is not certain that all growers will be able to bring in their crops. Anyway, a smaller fruit size should be expected, which may strongly reduce production volumes.

Italy

In Italy too, things are not as apricot growers would like them to be. In the Po Valley, damage has occurred due to spring frost. There has been hail in various regions in the country. Due to a big crop and a very dry summer in 2022, there is biannual bearing in many places. As a result, the 2023 apricot crop will turn out to be about 26% smaller than in 2022 at about 203,000 tonnes and be 13% smaller than the five-year average (2017-2021).

France is full

France is the only country in Europe, where the crop forecasts turn out higher than the fiveyear average. After two years with much spring frost, there has been no frost in spring this year, but it did freeze in winter. As a result, the trees had enough chilling hours and flowering has

been regular. The expected production of a bit more than 125,000 tonnes is 16% more than the five-year average. However, compared with 2015 (150,000 tonnes) production in France is falling. The decrease in hectarage is partly responsible for this. Moreover, the coming crop is expected to turn out smaller than expected due to extreme drought in some areas. Especially the great drought around Perpignan may strongly reduce the crop. In this region 30% of French apricots is grown.

Damage due to spring frost in Hungary

The crop estimate presented by Europêch’, is limited to four countries. Hungary is not one of them. However, this country is an important producer of apricots, too. Production is partly exported to Germany and Austria.

According to a report on news platform FreshPlaza, at the beginning of April, spring frosts with temperatures between -3 °C and -8 °C have caused serious damage. At that moment flowering was complete and there were already fruitlets on the trees. Damage varies from 60-70% in orchards at higher altitudes to 90-100% in orchards at lower altitudes. Early-ripening varieties, such as Tsunami, Spring Blush and Pinkcot suffered more damage than later varieties, such as Bergeron, Bergarouge, Kioto, Big Red and Farbaly. (EFM editorial board )

Table 1. Production of apricots (in tonnes) in the four most important producing countries in Europe and the 2023 crop compared with the preceding years

The apricot crop in France this year may be abundant, provided enough irrigation takes place. Hans Scholten

Kurt Werth fruit growing expert, South Tyrol, Italy office@fruitmagazine.eu

The A.L.S fruit growing seminar

Part 2: Crop protection, residues and quality

Info Kapauer

This year too, the fruit growing seminar in Ritten (South Tyrol) was led by the chairman of the students’ association A.L.S, Klaus Kapauer.

A.L.S. Ramularia

Problems with Ramularia, the speckled lenticel spot infestation is on the increase (Sabine Öttl, Versuchszentrum Laimburg).

In 2022, the infestation occurred in Piemonte (Italy), Steiermark (Austria), on the Côte d’Azur (France) and in South Tyrol (Italy). The symptoms – small elongated indentations in the skin – only become visible during storage. In the orchard, no indications of this can be found. At the moment, there is as yet no explanation for the cause of the problem. Extensive additional research into the disease is needed.

The fruit growing seminar that is annually organised by the graduate association of colleges of agriculture and horticulture (A.L.S) in South Tyrol, was and is a source of knowledge for dedicated fruit growers. It was the same again this year. A participant hit the nail right on the head by describing the meeting with the words “a platform for curious fruit growing fundamentalists”.

During the 3-day seminar, there was a total of 29 presentations on the programme. In a number of articles, the well-known South Tyrolean fruit growing expert Kurt Werth summarises the most important conclusions, recommendations, statements, new insights and pieces of information from the presentations. In this second article, crop protection and related residue problems are central.

Food security

For the food security of the European population (37 countries, 500 million people), annually 117 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables are needed. The consumer demands an extensive assortment of perfectly looking products that are available all-year-round. Deployment of natural, chemical-synthetic or organic crop protection products is absolutely necessary for this. ( Albrecht Friedle, Friedle laboratory GmbH). Within the framework of ‘good agricultural practice’ residue analyses are necessary. Various EU regulations regulate both the limit values and the risk assessment of residues. Moreover, organic products have to meet the target values of the BNN (Bundesverband Naturkost Naturwaren) and of the European EKO regulation (EU) Nr. 2018/848. On top of this, growers are obliged by private

law by themselves and their customers to meet certain residue conditions.

Quality guarantee

Supermarkets demand a quality guarantee for fruits and vegetables based on risk (Jochen Schiel, LIDL Stiftung). The specifications required are:

Ÿ certification of all products according to the GlobalGap standard or a comparable and certified other standard;

Ÿ application of GRASP or another social standard, recognised as being equivalent.

As to residues of crop protection products, the following additional demands apply:

Ÿ the residue contents are a maximum of onethird of the legally permitted contents;

Ÿ residue is present of a maximum of one single product with an ARfD value (acute reference dose) of a maximum 100%;

Ÿ residue of a maximum of five active ingredients is present;

Ÿ the conditions of the strategic active ingredients list have to be met;

Ÿ the sum of the maximum residue contents must not exceed 80%.

Made-to-measure crop protection

Crop protection and customer demands: how can both be taken into account? The point of departure here is, to carry out crop protection as much as is necessary with as little residue as possible (Wolfgang Graiss, VI.P). This means a crop protection strategy with:

Ÿ techniques to reduce drift;

Ÿ protection of the person applying the product;

Ÿ carefully considered intervals between sprayings;