The production of Italian peaches and nectarines has fallen 13 per cent, according to Centro Servizi Ortofrutticoli (CSO).
A total of 1,504,000 tonnes of peaches, apricots and nectarines will be produced this year, down 13 per cent from 2005.
Low temperatures and heavy rain in the spring have reduced the yields.
Production of peaches on a national level was 687,000t, down 13 per cent, and the output of nectarines fell 12 per cent to 677,000t.
Southern Italy saw the production of peaches fall by 15 per cent, and nectarines by 17 per cent, compared to 2005.
Production dipped less in Northern Italy, where the yield of peaches slipped by nine per cent, and nectarines were down eight per cent. This was due to a good yield from Piedmont and the recovery of Veneto.
Levels of production will remain substantially lower than 2005 until mid July, and it will continue to be lower than last tear until August 20.
European production of peaches, apricots and nectarines is 3,789,000t, down 1.8 per cent from 2005, according to Europech. But Spain has this year increased production of peaches and nectarines by two per cent.
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