berries frost

Croatia's fresh fruit offering has suffered a blow as a result of the widespread low temperatures and frosts that have hit much of Europe, with the topfruit, stonefruit and berry categories all thought to have suffered losses.

According to a report by the Croatian Times, the unfavourable conditions have caused around HRK900m (€120m) worth of damage to apples, mandarins, pears, cherries, plums, peaches, apricots and strawberries in the country.

The apple category was hit particularly hard, according to Frano Ivkovic of the Croatian Fruit Growers Association (HVZ), with losses of an estimated €30m.

Ivkovic added that the frosts were the most severe setback the country's fruit production industry had ever seen.