The global apple and pear community

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World Apple and Pear Association

Activities

The World Apple and Pear Association

 
WAPA is an industry body established in 2001 representing major apple and pear producing countries globally. The Association provides a forum for discussion and pools members to provide a louder voice for the sectors.

All work undertaken is to improve producing countries' business activities and increase demand for apples and pears, whilst ensuring a fair return for producers.

To achieve these common goals, WAPA holds regular meetings and carries out a range of diverse projects, market analyses and initiatives to allow members to react to changing market trends.

WAPA has a yearly-elected President, in a rotation basis from Europe Northern and Southern hemispheres, and a permanent secretariat in Brussels.

WAPA's activities

WAPA brings together representatives of apple and pear-producing countries from across the globe and aims to:

  • provide a forum where issues affecting apple and pear producing countries can be discussed
  • foster and enhance producing countries’ business activities
  • disseminate market information to enlarge producing countries’ knowledge base
  • match apple and pear supply and demand, while at the same time ensuring a fair return for producers
  • foster and encourage any initiative that is of benefit to producing countries and to which all members subscribe
  • liaise with traders, retailers and consumers and demonstrate the importance of producers in the supply chain

WAPA's priorities

The current transient global apple and pear business environment has led WAPA to identify the following priorities which currently direct the Association's work. These fundamental principles are regularly updated to take account of the new developments:

  • increase consumer demand for apples and pears in a two-pronged approach:
    • facilitate exchange and dissemination of scientific information citing nutritional benefits to boost demand; and
    • introduce common production best practices to ensure the product placed on the market is of the best possible quality and satisfies consumer expectations;
  • improve the market position of apples and pears by developing close links with retail chains; and
  • introduce common language to improve the data flow and facilitate communication within each industry.