The World Congress of Apple and Pear Producers was held recently in the Serbian capital Belgrade, attracting more than 200 producers from 23 countries, Serbian state radio and television reported Aug. 5. The congress warned that the consumption of apples is becoming less and less.
Serbia is the third non-EU country to host the event. The EU produces about 12 million tons of apples and 2 million tons of pears annually, and production is expected to increase further, while other countries, such as China and the United States, will see a slight decrease in production. The bigger problem is that consumer consumption of apples is declining and producers need to work hard to cater to consumers in different regions with new products and flavors.
With an annual production of 550,000 tons of apples and pears, Serbia is an important player in the world market, said Mahmutovic, state secretary of the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture. More than 190,000 tons of apples and pears are exported annually, realizing more than $135 million in foreign exchange earnings. USAID Director in Serbia Robertson said Serbia’s agriculture, especially fruit farming, has grown rapidly over the past decade due to investments in modern orchards and improved logistics.
In the next few days, Serbia’s major apple cultivars will be harvested. Thanks to relevant agrotechnical measures, frost and drought did not have serious consequences and producers are expecting a good harvest. In terms of exports, the Russian market remains important, but in recent years Serbian apples have also been exported to the United Kingdom, the Middle East and the Far East. Benefiting from interstate agreements, Serbian apples can already be exported to Egypt and Indonesia, and soon other markets will be opened.
Source: Economic and Commercial Section of the Embassy in the Republic of Serbia
Post time: Aug-17-2022