French apple growers are anticipating having sufficient fruit in store to last until the end of June, according to Henri Pluvinage of the French Apple Marketing Commission. France enjoyed a near normal crop of some two million tonnes this season when the majority of the EU was substantially reduced. But there was no improvement in prices. "We should have been able to sell more but the market did not materialise," said Pluvinage. "In January the stock situation was the highest since 1993." Pluvinage said in many cases growers had rated the season as a bad one with two thirds of the industry only just covering costs. "It was the packers who had a good season," he said. The one bright spot had been the UK exchange rate which had allowed shipments to continue. {{M/E FRESH PRODUCE }}

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