According to the latest estimates from Agreste, on October 1st 2026, French production of dessert pears is expected to reach 144,000 tons this year, representing a 9% decrease from 2025. Despite this decline, volumes are expected to remain 11% above the average of the last five years, thanks in particular to young orchards coming into production. Summer weather conditions have adversely affected yields and fruit size in several production regions. On the market, demand remains sluggish, with prices slightly lower than last year in September.

Adverse weather conditions in the main production regions
In Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA), France’s leading producing region accounting for nearly 40% of French production potential, output is expected to be 8% lower than last year. Summer heatwaves have slowed fruit growth, leading to a reduction in fruit size, especially for summer varieties. Compounding these difficulties are the effects of spring frost and the phenomenon of alternate bearing following a large 2025 harvest. Some of the crop is therefore expected to be channeled into processing. Despite this year-on-year decline, production in the PACA region is forecast to exceed the average of the last five years by 11%, driven by a 5% increase in the area under cultivation.

In the Rhône Valley, the decline is expected to be more limited, at 1% year-on-year, as pear trees withstood the heatwaves better than apple trees.

In Occitanie, production is expected to be 13% lower than in 2025. Yields were adversely affected by successive heatwaves and drought, which have limited fruit development. “Irrigation was not able to compensate for these difficult weather conditions,” according to the Agreste economic report.

The situation is also unfavorable in the Centre-Val de Loire region, where harvesting of the winter varieties continues. Repeated heatwaves have resulted in a significant proportion of small-sized fruit, the Conférence variety being particularly affected. Many fruits may not be harvested due to their insufficient size. Regional production is therefore expected to decrease by 21% year-on-year.

In the Pays de la Loire region, the high temperatures have also hampered the development of pears, especially the summer varieties, despite pear trees being generally more resilient than apple trees. Total production is expected to be 4% lower than in 2025.

Prices slightly down amid sluggish demand
In September, despite limited volumes of summer pears, prices dropped by 1% compared with the same period in 2025. They remain, however, 6% higher than the average for the last five years. “Demand for pears remains low and lower than last year,” according to Agreste. The persistently high temperatures in September favored the final summer fruits and grapes, towards which consumers turned in greater numbers, against the backdrop of a sluggish start to the pear season.

Source: agreste.agriculture.gouv.fr