Current Situation and Future Trends in Apple Cultivars in Western Europe

Abstract

European production of apples in 1988 was 9 million tonnes (468 million boxes). Three countries produced 75% of the European crop—Italy, Germany and France. The main cultivar, ‘Golden Delicious’ (33%), is produced primarily in Italy and France although production is decreasing. ‘Gala’ and ‘Granny Smith’ could replace some ‘Golden Delicious’ acreage in southern Europe. Although ‘Gala’ doesn’t appear in the production statistics as yet, ‘Granny Smith’ reached 279,000 tonnes in 1988. This is 9% more than the previous year. In the northern countries, three cultivars have dominated recent plantings: ‘Jonagold,’ ‘Elstar’ and ‘Gloster.’ ‘Gloster’ will probably not increase in the future but the other two cultivars, which are concentrated in Belgium, Holland and Germany, are receiving increased interest in other European fruit areas such as northern Italy, especially as new, more highly colored strains become available.