World Apple and Pear Association facts for kids
The World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA) is a group that started in 2001. It brings together the main countries that grow apples and pears around the world. WAPA helps these countries talk to each other and share important information about fruit trees. For example, in 2007, the world grew about 66 million tonnes of apples and 20.5 million tonnes of pears. WAPA's main office is in Brussels, Belgium.
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What WAPA Does
WAPA helps its members talk about challenges in growing and selling apples and pears worldwide. They share important market information. WAPA also helps create a common way to talk about data. This makes it easier for everyone in the apple and pear business to understand each other.
Predicting Harvests
WAPA is also in charge of predicting how many apples and pears will be grown each year. They make these predictions for both the Northern Hemisphere (like Europe and North America) and the Southern Hemisphere (like Australia and South America). The prediction for the Southern Hemisphere is usually given in February. The prediction for the Northern Hemisphere is given in August.
Helping People Buy More Apples and Pears
WAPA also works to get more people to buy apples and pears. They do this in a few ways:
- They help share scientific information about how healthy apples and pears are. This encourages more people to eat them.
- They encourage growers to use the best ways to grow fruit. This makes sure the apples and pears are of great quality.
- They discuss how to sell apples and pears better. They also work closely with big stores that sell food.
Who Can Join WAPA
Any country that grows apples and pears to sell fresh can join WAPA. Each country needs to choose one main organization that represents most of its apple and pear growers.
Currently, these countries are members of WAPA:
