2012 FORELLE FEMA PROGRAMME FEEDBACK

Forelle is prone to mealiness and astringency if not cold stored for at least 12 weeks at -0.5°C. This mandatory storage period can result in a gap in the supply of bicolour pears to EU markets, resulting in buyers switching to fruit from other offshore competitors, a move that often remains permanent even when Forelle pears from South Africa become available. To combat this and to accommodate increasing volumes of Forelle, an urgent need has arisen for RSA Forelle to be available in Europe from week 15.