Stonefruit forecasts reviewed

Stonefruit production forecasts for Europe have been revised following early summer storms in many production regions. Annual stonefruit conference organiser Europech’ issued updated figures this week and expects the continental peach and nectarine crop to come in at 2. 73 million tonnes - a decline of some five per cent on figures released at the start of the season.

The main reason is a drop in the Italian crop likely following rainfall and hail earlier this month and late in May. Volumes of peaches and nectarines are now expected to be some 12 per cent below last year’s figures and seven per cent below the five-year average.

The Europech’ figures forecast a slightly larger crop for Spain of peaches and nectarines but adverse weather over the past week, may reverse this. According to grower associations in eastern Spain and Extremadura, several thousand tonnes and hundreds of hectares have been damaged. Hail and rain in Extremadura on June 15 damaged 8,000 tonnes of peaches and nectarines and 700ha were affected. Meanwhile, a similar number of plantations were struck first by hail and then rain in the Valencia region with winds as high as 93km/h also ripping fruit from trees. Peaches, nectarines and even apple, pear and citrus trees were all affected.

The Greek forecast has also been revised downwards slightly so that the country is likely to bring 10 per cent fewer peaches and nectarines to market than in 2005.

Climatically France has not suffered this season and the revised forecast is a slight increase on predictions before the start of the season, but volumes are still likely to be four cent down on last season - the effects of acreage being taken out of production.

Apricot production across Europe generally is expected to show a slight increase on earlier forecasts, although France is predicted to produce slightly less than first thought and recent adverse weather in Italy has not been taken into account in the calculations.