The World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA) forecasts Southern Hemisphere pome fruit production to rise 9% this year, largely because of a "normalized" apple crop in Brazil. 

The group held its Annual General Meeting on Feb. 10 at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, where representatives of the key global apple and pear-producing countries discussed the Southern Hemisphere forecast, the final update of the Northern Hemisphere, welcomed new members and elected a new president and vice-president.

It said that all in all, the meeting was well attended and there were "many topics to discuss."

Collected from industry associations in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa, the forecast showed that the 2017 apple and pear Southern Hemisphere crops are expected to reach 5.43 million metric tons (MT) and 1.34 million MT respectively.

"For apples, this represents an increase of 9% on the 2016 crop, mainly because of a normalised crop again in Brazil. Forecasted export figures remain stable at 1,665,483MT," it said.

"For pears, a decrease of 2% on the 2016 crop is recorded while forecasted export figures are expected to have decreased with 6% at 656.479MT."

The meeting was also an opportunity to welcome two new members - the China Chamber of Commerce of Import & Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce & Animal By-Products, as well as the Ukrsadprom Association from the Ukraine.

"WAPA is pleased to welcome these two countries as its members, thereby increasing its global role for the apple and pear sector," it said.

This was the last meeting chaired by Daniel Sauvaitre, from the French national apple association ANPP. The last part of the meeting saw Washington Apple Commission president Todd Fryhover officially elected as president. 

The vice-president of WAPA will be Nicholas Dicey from the South African Apple and Pear Association. 

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