Greengage plums

Blue Whale has outlined its forecast for the 2015 plum season, revealing mixed thoughts over the crop.

The French grower-supplier has said that the forecast for its more traditional varieties, such as Greengage, is for a normal crop, with French, Belgian and English customers eagerly awaiting the fruit.

However, the group noted that a deficit was emerging in varieties such as TC Sun, October Sun and Rubycrunch, vareties that represent up to one third of the group's plum volumes.

The company said it would be particularly impacted by the reduction in these varieties because the deficit was even more pronounced in the south-east of the country, and in the Loire Valley.