Belgium is poised to claim the title of Europe's top pear producer this year, as the nation anticipates its most abundant pear harvest ever, marking a 19 percent increase, equivalent to 412,000

tonnes.

While Europe faces a historically challenging pear crop season, with notable declines in countries like Italy (down 69 percent) and France (down 29 percent), Belgium is bucking the trend with a record-breaking harvest. The country is set to reap an estimated 412,000 tonnes of pears in the upcoming days, solidifying its position as the leading pear producer within the European Union.

On the global scale, Belgium ranks sixth in pear production. The dominant variety remains the Conference pear, accounting for nearly 88 percent of the yield. However, newer pear varieties such as QTee, Fred, and Red Modoc are gradually gaining ground.

In contrast to its pear success, Belgium is experiencing a decrease in its apple crop this year, in line with the trend seen in other European nations. The projected apple harvest of 203,000 tonnes represents a 14.9 percent decline compared to the previous year. Across Europe, apple production is expected to be 3.3 percent lower, with an estimated yield of approximately 11,410,681 tonnes.

This reduction in apple production can be attributed in part to a decrease in apple orchard acreage. Notably, both Poland and Germany are projected to yield approximately 11.1 percent fewer apples during this season. Photo by I, NobbiP, Wikimedia commons.