French fruit exporter Blue Whale is expecting significantly higher pear volumes this year, but says fears of oversupply in the domestic market are being allayed by a good pace of sales. 

The company's commercial manager Bernard Bagault told www.freshfruitportal.com pear production would likely be 15% higher for the 2014-15 season, to reach around 5,000 metric tons (MT).

"The French market is very competitive at the moment, but it is seeing an active consumption," Bagault said.

"There are no oversupply issues related to the Russian import ban, just one less customer."

France receives about 85% of pear production from the pipfruit-focused company, with development being seen in the U.K. and Germany.

Bagault also said this was the first season Blue Whale was shipping the fruit to the U.S., having only recently received export protocols.

The majority of the growers' pear production takes place in the south-east of the country, with the season running from September to June.

Blue Whale's 200 growers produce varieties including Williams, Conference, Comice, and the new Angelys that was developed by the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA).

The Angelys is a winter pear that is also being produced in Spain and Italy.

Bagault said part of Blue Whale's future strategy was to develop its own range of pears for the autumn and winter period.

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