The fruit sector of the province of Lleida anticipates a drop in the pear harvest due to poor fruit set, which also affects other areas of Catalonia, Spain, and countries like Italy, the Netherlands, or Belgium. The impact is concentrated on a fruit that, unlike nectarines, peaches, and apples, faces a clearly worse campaign.
The tension in the Lleida countryside lies in the gap between the investment made on the farms and the yield that producers now expect. Josep Cabré, head of fruit for Unión de Uniones, warned from a farm in Térmens that production could be 15% or 20% lower than in 2024, but 50% to 60% lower than in a normal year.
Josep Cabré warns in Térmens that the pear harvest could fall by up to 60% compared to a normal year
Cabré summarized the forecast with a strong statement during his visit to Térmens. There he maintained that the reduction in production could exceed half of the real potential of pear plantations.
"The harvest will be disastrous" - Josep Cabré, head of fruit, Unión de Uniones
The problem is not due to a single cause. Pear trees are showing signs of fire blight, a disease for which no known solution exists, and they also suffer from hail damage, drought, and temperature changes.
Added to this combination is the poor fruit set, which has led the sector to demand more research to determine why it is occurring and how it can be curbed. The request also includes a voluntary varietal conversion plan to adapt the farms.
Poor fruit set extends beyond Lleida and could reduce exports and supermarket supply
The impact is not limited to the province of Lleida. The same problem is appearing in other areas of Catalonia and Spain, as well as in producing markets such as Italy, the Netherlands, or Belgium.
This coincidence in several territories points to a lower availability of pears for both export and sale in supermarkets. Meanwhile, other stone fruits and apples maintain more stable expectations for this campaign.
Specifically, the pear will be the most affected fruit this year, while nectarines, peaches, and apples expect a stable harvest. The difference exacerbates the blow to farms that were not starting from a homogeneous scenario within the fruit sector.
Cabré also linked the pressure on farm accounts to the increase in costs derived from the war in the Middle East. For this reason, he argued that pear prices will have to rise if the loss of production and the increased cost of activity are to be compensated.
"We must not let farmers go bankrupt. We are not talking about semi-abandoned plantations. We are talking about facilities with a strong investment" - Josep Cabré, fruit manager, Unión de Uniones
The closest precedent is from the last season. In 2024, the Generalitat de Catalunya granted specific aid to the pear sector.