“We are projecting a 13% increase, but we have yet to see if this expectation holds, as there is significant variability,” Filipe Ribeiro, president of the National Association of Rocha Pear Producers (ANP), based in Cadaval, in the Lisbon district, told the Lusa news agency.

Contrary to the norm, the harvest began before 15 August this year.

“The growth cycle is further advanced than last year due to the heat, as the fruit ripened more quickly,” he explained.

Also due to the high temperatures, “fruit size has increased in recent weeks, and the pears have very good sugar levels, which boosts marketability,” he added.

However, the heat also caused “sunscald” on the fruit, though the damage was “not as severe as it was two years ago.”

This issue compounds the challenges producers have faced regarding fruit diseases that have been reducing yields, specifically fire blight and Stemphylium leaf spot, which can no longer be treated with certain phytosanitary products banned by the European Union.

Recruiting labour for this seasonal agricultural work has also become “more difficult” this year, a situation linked to the departure of migrant workers to other countries and “difficulties in the processes for migrants to enter the country for agricultural work.”

“We went from a situation of open doors to one where doors are nearly closed, not to mention that the processes are very slow,” the executive explained.

The added difficulty of finding labour is a concern for the sector, which runs the risk of “leaving fruit in the orchards, which is not a good thing.”

The cultivation area has also been shrinking, dropping from 11,325 hectares in 2020 to around 10,000 hectares.

The main producing municipalities are Bombarral, Cadaval, Óbidos, Caldas da Rainha, Alcobaça, Lourinhã, Mafra, and Torres Vedras, located in the districts of Leiria and Lisbon.

The sector and the scientific research community are working not only on cloning more resistant plants but also on solutions to combat diseases.

Fifty-eight per cent of the output is exported, with Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Morocco, and France as the primary markets, while the remainder is sold domestically.

Over the past two years, the sector has generated approximately 150 million euros in revenue.

Established in 1993, the ANP represents about 90% of Rocha pear producers and production in Portugal.

In 2003, the European Commission recognised Pera Rocha as a Protected Designation of Origin product.