In the middle of the rows of apple trees the pickers are busy because the gala is about ten days in advance. The weather, especially the heat and the drought, caused the fruit to ripen faster than expected. But the heat waves also had an impact on the quality, be it the size, the taste or even the color of the fruits.
Smaller apples, heat split apples
This year there are more little apples explains Roland Rivory, arborist in Maclas. “When it’s really very, very hot, above 38 degrees, the tree stresses out and stops. So we have caliber blockages, smaller apples this year” explains the man who is also the president of the Les Balcons du Mont Pilat cooperative.
– Delphine Marion Boulle
The other consequence of the heat and the lack of water are also smashed, split apples “these are stalked splits, it’s apples, large calibers, which are over-ripe and which burst under the effect of heat”.
– Delphine Marion Boulle
In total there will be 10 to 15% loss depending on the variety. It will be at least 20% on the gala according to Olivier Lecoq, the director of the cooperative.
A gala apple less red than usual
Finally, the gala apple known for her red dress instead wore cream colored clothes this year too because of the heat. Gold “we must not forget that the consumer will first buy with his eyes” recalls Olivier Lecoq, the director of the cooperative.
In fact, the apple matured indoors before it had the time and temperatures to reach its red color. “We’re going to have to have an apple that has the right color, harvested at the right time. And that’s what we’re doing anyway so that some apples that are a little too light take on color between the first and second harvest wave” explains Olivier Lecoq.
– Delphine Marion Boulle
One big plus point remains: the apple will be very sweet because of this scorching summer ! “An exceptional sugar level” assures Roland Rivory.
More expensive apples this year
The cooperative, which brings together eleven arboriculturists, sells its apples half to supermarkets, half to wholesalers who supply early vegetables and catering. If the price is not fixed yet, it should be within about three weeks. It should take into account the increased costs of the cooperative and the arborists.
– Delphine Marion Boulle
Picking labor is more expensive than last year, but that’s not all. The cooperative suffers like everyone else from inflation. “The cardboard, the wood, the pallet, the people who will pack the apples, the transport: this year we will have increases of around 12 to 14% in packaging costs” details Olivier Lecoq, director. It remains to be seen how this will be passed on to the other end of the chain for the consumer.
This year, the cooperative should harvest about 6,000 tons. That’s a thousand less than in a good year.