Slow years for pears

Together with apples, pears are the key product in the top fruit category. Unlike apples, however, pears do not enjoy the same levels of popularity in terms of consumption. In the UK, for example, 22 per cent of domestic spending on fruit went on apples, while 40 per cent of households have not bought pears in the last year.
Elsevier Food International, Vol.8, No.2 May 2005

Consumption is highest in the Southern European markets of Italy and Spain, although even these markets have seen pear consumption decline in the last five years. Overall, at the international level, consumption is generally very stable, reflecting pears’ secondary importance as a product group. This stability in market terms, together with a situation of over-supply in Europe, at least, ensures that prices will continue to come under pressure.

In terms of the variety of fresh fruit available to consumers today, pears have a somewhat old fashioned and traditional image. Accordingly, different geographic markets show preferences for different varieties. German consumers traditionally prefer the Williams pear, while the Conference pear is more popular in the UK.

Like all food categories, however, there is pressure for innovation and novelty, as consumers become more demanding in terms of eating experiences. Research in Sweden, where the Conference pear is beginning to overtake the Anjou variety in terms of consumption, showed that younger consumers prefer harder varieties of fruit, compared to the older generation, more accustomed to softer fruit.