"The winter and spring rains have been very beneficial for the water reserves, and trees are much greener and more productive. In terms of quality, however, we've had to keep a closer eye on fungi," says Pedro Salvo, manager of Peras Pipín, a company from the Spanish region of La Rioja.
"Still, the main problem here is not the water or fungus, but fire blight, a disease caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, which is present in most farms. It is a severe and very contagious disease. We need help and resources from the public administration to fight against fire blight," says the manager.
© Peras Pipín
The bacterium affects the tree and the fruit, "but we only have palliative and, above all, physical means to fight it. The only thing that can be done is cutting the branches, which is not an actual solution. Fire blight has been around for many years, but it has spread a lot in La Rioja in the last two years because of the weather and some bad practices. It's not very clear, but in short, there is no solution."
Salvo says that "the bacteria enter the trees through wounds, and this year, after the hailstorms, the trees suffered plenty of damage, which made them more vulnerable."
Medium sizes and slightly fewer kilos
"We started harvesting in late August and will continue until mid-September; it is a fast process. Afterwards, we will keep the fruit in cold storage until July, a process which will allow Conference pears to gain a little more quality, even. I think we'll be harvesting fewer kilos than last season, and sizes will be more average," says Salvo.
© Peras Pipín
The Spanish Conference pear "is the favorite in the domestic market. In Europe, market conditions are shaped by Belgian and Dutch pears, which bring prices down. Ours is one of the few that domestic consumers are willing to pay more for," says Salvo.
According to the manager, "Spanish Conference pears don't have the support they should be getting from supermarket chains. There can be a price difference with Belgian or Dutch pears of as much as 50 cents per kilo, especially for large sizes. This year is a medium-sized pear year, and the larger sizes can cost up to 1 Euro per kilo more than Belgian or Dutch pears. This price difference is justified by their quality; a Spanish Conference pear can reach 14º Brix, while a Belgian won't reach 11º."
© Peras Pipín
"Pears and apples are usually sold together. Competition from oranges can perhaps be felt if their prices are low. The true competitor for our Conference pear is the Belgian pear, but those who appreciate the quality and sweetness of La Rioja pears will accept the higher price," says Pedro Salvo.
Pipín is exclusively devoted to the Conference pears grown in La Rioja. Flor de Iregua is the brand name they use "for a specific kind of pear grown in the heart of La Rioja, an area with a slightly cooler and more humid climate. The land is at a high altitude and irrigated by the Iregua and Ebro rivers, with high-quality water and rich sediments. We also produce in the area of the Designation of Origin Rincón de Soto. In total, around 4 million kilos are grown each year in La Rioja," says the manager.
For more information:
Pedro Salvo
Peras Pipín
Tel.: +34 658 82 80 35
[email protected]
www.peraspipin.es