A diversified pear range that is being restructured
The pear sector is at a turning point, raising questions and concerns for all those involved. In France, pears are the third largest fruit crop in terms of volume, after apples and peaches-nectarines. Production in the sector fell steadily between 2000 and 2016 (FAO, 2020), but is now stable. Pear orchards are ageing and need to be renewed, in a sector where varietal innovation is relatively low.
However, the context is currently changing, with the breeding of new selections, the creation of 'club varieties' and increasing economic value, stimulating renewed interest in pear production and encouraging tree fruit growers to plant pear trees again (Delgado, 2019; Florens, 2017). This dynamic is all the more important given that France is not self-sufficient and imports 40% of the pears consumed (Agreste, 2020). French consumption is estimated at around 3 kg per person per year, with two-thirds of households buying pears at least once a year (Serrurier, 2021).