Pear sales up 30% in Belgium, but apples remain

Pear sales in Belgium have increased by about 30% compared to the same period last year, report De Tijd and Het Nieuwsblad. The sale of apples, by contrast, remains stable.

"We have sold roughly 30% more pears in Belgium compared to last year," confirms Etienne Leclère, commercial director of the Belgian Fruit Auction in Haspengouw. "Now we need to launch a similar hype for our apples." Leclère refers to the hype around pears created in the social media following the Russian boycott of certain Belgian products, including fruit.  

"We need to eat more domestic fruit in general. The hype around pears was good, and had a positive influence on sales. But we want the same for apples," says Leclère.