In 2024, pears will be the leading fruit crop in the Netherlands, with over 1,100 growers cultivating them on an average of 8.7 hectares each. This represents an 80% increase in pear cultivation since 2010, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
Conversely, plum cultivation is on the decline, covering just 260 hectares this year—a 40% drop from the early 2000s. The number of companies growing plums has also halved since 2000, now standing at 270.
Cherry production, however, has surged since the 1990s, nearly tripling to around 560 hectares. The number of cherry growers remains steady at 340. In 2024, cherry producers affected by an exotic fruit fly will be permitted to use two crop protection products for the last time. The impact of this measure on future cherry cultivation is uncertain.
Most cherry and plum growers also cultivate other fruits. In 2024, 219 companies grow cherries alongside other fruits, while 223 do the same with plums. Around 120 growers specialize exclusively in cherries, with fewer focusing solely on plums.
Apples, the second most produced fruit, are grown by 920 companies on an average of 5.7 hectares each. Unlike pears, apple cultivation has remained stable over the past 14 years.