Peaches and nectarines: Europe registers its smallest harvest in 30 years
- Published on 31/05/2021 - Published by Aschehoug Anne-Solveig
- Free
European stone-fruit market
Informations
- Product(s) : Stone fruits , Nectarine , Peach
- Rubrique / Thématique : Review and Forecasts
- Country : Spain , Europe , France , Italy
- Keywords : Climate , Production
Because of disastrous weather conditions in the four main European peach and nectarine producer countries, the harvest forecasts are set to be the lowest for the past thirty years. This shortfall has not spared any country or production area. The European harvest is set to be just under 1.9 million tonnes, 18 % less than in 2020, an already lean year, and 37 % below the 2015-2019 average. The European forecast for clingstone peaches is reckoning on 544 000 tonnes, down 15 % over one year.
In France, after the spell of black frost in early April, harvest losses subside as you proceed from north to south. The Rhône-Alpes regions was hardest hit, followed by Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, with big losses in Vaucluse and the north of Bouches-du-Rhône, while Languedoc-Roussillon was a bit less affected. French forecasts are reckoning on barely 115 000 tonnes, down 34 % over one year, and 42% below the five-year average.
In Spain, production is set to be down across all the regions, and should reach 930 000 tonnes, i.e. - 13 % over one year, and 25 % below the five-year average. Forecasts for clingstone peaches are reckoning on 285 000 tonnes, i.e. - 3 % over one year, and 4 % below the five-year average.
In Italy, the peach, nectarine and clingstone peach harvest should be 667 000 tonnes, registering an 11 % slump over one year, and 45 % below the five-year average.
In Greece, after an extremely cold winter in January-February and the devastating cold spell in early April, the peach, nectarine and clingstone peach harvest is set to be 160 000 tonnes, down 45 % over one year, and 47 % below the five-year average. The harvest for clingstone peaches, one of the highest-potential fruits in the Greek sector, is set to be 200 000 tonnes, down by 50 % over one year, and 46 % below the five-year average.
Clearly, Europe has for the second consecutive year registered a big loss in its peach, nectarine and clingstone peach production potential. In late April, the harvests which had begun in Andalusia, near Seville and in Murcia, sold on a fluid market and at high prices, given the limited volumes. Last week, the first peaches and nectarines from Roussillon entered the market, and against all expectations, prices could see an upturn across the stone fruit range (peaches, nectarines, apricots and cherries), provided that the demand is there. It will all depend on the weather in the near future.
