The growing season for last summer's stonefruit was difficult to say the least. The poor weather during fruit set and blossoming affected much of the early peach, nectarine and plum crops in Spain. Fruit was late to be harvested and in some varieties the yield was down significantly year on year, much to the surprise of many of the growers. Usually there is excellent availability from early May, however, this year that did not materialise. Fruit remained short and compared to last year, prices were relatively high.
Undoubtedly it was an exceptional year from a climatic point of view, and one of the most important characteristics was the persistence of high temperatures that affected nearly all of the Mediterranean bowl and the UK. Spanish stonefruit producing regions such as Lerida and Murcia, experienced an unsurpassed number of days reaching above 32°C, according to available historical data (Source: National Institute of Meteorology of Spain). Lerida, Murcia and Huelva hit a record this year in the number of days above 35°C, and in the Badajoz and Seville provinces a record 40°C was achieved.
It is clear this year that the UK had both significantly less rain and significantly more sun than in 2002. Analysis of the meteorological information from HRI East Malling for Kent from April ñ September for both 2002 and 2003 has shown the maximum average temperature in August 2002 was 29.8°C. In August 2003 this was 37.4°C, a marked difference of +7.6°C.
The effects of the unprecedented temperatures in 2003 soon became apparent in some UK varieties of stonefruit. It was the first stonefruit marketing season for the Summerfruit Company, an alliance between Redbridge-AFI and Worldwide Fruit. Marketing more than two thirds of the UK stonefruit growers' crops, the superb weather went a long way to aiding the sales in this first year.
The lack of rain during June and July helped to produce and sustain an excellent UK cherry crop with large, juicy and dark fruit being available for four to five weeks. The UK plum crop also thrived with the hot weather and lack of rain, although sustained heat and lack of cooler temperatures at night at the end of July and beginning of August did cause a major temporary dip in availability between the early Opal variety and the start of the main Victoria crop. In addition, prolonged high temperatures did cause some production to show occasional signs of stress, with some fruits starting to show internal browning.
Many consumers perceive stonefruit, particularly cherries, apricots and peaches and nectarines as summer fruits and this a time when consumption is usually high. At the end of the last winter season the stonefruit market had grown by 16.3 per cent and was worth £276 million (Source: TNS 52 week ending March 30, 2003). By the end of the 2003 summer season, a time of year when stonefruit is traditionally consumed in volume, the market had shrunk to £261 million (Source: TNS 52 weeks ending September 14 2003). Higher than normal retails dramatically reduced the strength of the offers at a time when promotional activity is traditionally very strong. The excellent September and October weather did offer some hope as the market grew by 30.3 per cent in the four weeks ending October 12, 2003 (Source: TNS), and in the 12 weeks ending November 9, 2003 the market had grown by 12.3 per cent (Source: TNS). With a promising plum crop from South Africa it is hoped that the stonefruit market will see further growth to make up for the disappointing summer sales.
Redbridge-AFI's stonefruit offer is comprised of five main categories ñ plums, peaches, nectarines, cherries and apricots. Within this there are many different varieties of each type of stonefruit although the number of varieties that are seen within the UK has decreased relatively in the last six years.
This has come about as a result of increased focus on the eating quality of stonefruit and varieties that did not deliver in terms of flavour have been eliminated from the portfolio. In turn this has led to a better consistency of varieties, (especially in plums, peaches and nectarines) that are seen in the UK market at certain times of year. Previously consumers would purchase one particular variety and when they returned to make a repeat purchase the following week that variety would have finished. Cherries on the other hand tend to have more consistency in their varieties with Bing being by far the more commonly produced and best cherry.
Much work is being undertaken in new varieties, although with stonefruit it takes three years before a crop is produced. Research and development therefore requires considerable financial resources and it can be some years before a variety is successfully produced in commercial volumes.
Last summer we saw the second year of commercial production of a South African plum variety grown under licence in Spain. As a development this can reduce the UK's dependence on Red Beaut as an early variety.
In terms of what the UK market prefers, peaches and nectarines need to have a high percentage of red blush while plums can be black, red or yellow. Large, dark cherries are preferred as they deliver in terms of flavour and eating quality.
For stonefruit to grow successfully the trees and fruit require plenty of chill hours during the winter months, dry conditions for pollination and fruit set and a large diurnal temperature range as the fruit matures. The main stonefruit producing countries with climate and soils that meet these criteria are Spain, Italy, UK, Portugal, Greece and France within Europe, Turkey and North America within the northern hemisphere and South Africa, Chile, Argentina and Australia within the southern hemisphere.
One of the more unusual growing regions within Spain is that of the Valle del Jerte where light acidic soils and a north-east, south-west orientation create a microclimate ideally suited to the growing of the stemmed cherries as well as the unique Picota cherry.
Other countries around the world that are emerging as strategically important relatively new sources of stonefruit are Peru, Egypt, Morocco and New Zealand. As sources, Peru, Egypt and Morocco produce stonefruit that arrives in the UK on the shoulders of the main northern and southern hemisphere seasons with varieties that require less chill hours during the winter months.
A lot of work has been undertaken to extend the seasons to ensure that stonefruit is available on the shelves 52 weeks a year. This has now been achieved with plums, peaches and nectarines, while cherries and apricots still have an element of seasonality in that there are two gaps in their calendar.
In terms of cherries, peaches and nectarines an extension of the season can be achieved by careful CA and MA storage of product at the end of the main season. Earlier fruit can be produced by covering crops. This can advance the season by up to 10 days.
Consumption could be increased, particularly during the winter, by increasing consumer awareness that stonefruit is not just a summer fruit. Tastings are one way of achieving this especially during the winter months that is a time when stonefruit does not have as high a profile as it does in the summer. Consumers need to realise that stonefruit is available and can deliver in terms of flavour at this time of year. As importers it is our responsibility to continue to improve current varieties and encourage the development of new and improved varieties. Much work is being undertaken with developments of machines to guarantee sweetness and maturity of fruit. Whilst still relatively new and expensive these machines will in the future be able to ensure that consumers have guaranteed sweet and juicy fruit to ensure that they make that all important repeat purchase.
No comments yet