The 2024 peach and nectarine harvest forecasts for Europe were recently presented at MEDFEL-EUROPECH.
After three years (2020, 2021 and 2022) marked by a significant production deficit, with the total volume of peaches, nectarines, flat peaches and pavias falling below 3 million tons, in 2023, the production recovered a bit and reached approximately 3.3 million tons.
This season, the drought has persisted in Catalonia and Roussillon, but spring rains should ensure a sufficient supply of water for irrigation throughout the summer.
So far, there have been no significant weather incidents to report in the European producing areas, only some limited instances of frost or hail.
In 2024, the harvest of peaches, nectarines and flat peaches is expected to reach 3.4 million tons. This entails a 4% increase compared to 2023 and is 7% more than the 2018/2022 average.
Spain will harvest about 1.5 million tons of peaches, nectarines and flat peaches; 1% more than in 2023 and 12% above the 2018/2022 average. After a very poor harvest in 2022 due to the impact of frosts in Aragon and Catalonia, the production levels have almost returned to their full potential. Although the drought in northern Spain raised concerns about the survival of the plantations, the rains in May and June saved the production.
Greece expects to harvest about 700,000 tons of peaches and nectarines; a 3% increase compared to 2023 and 5% above the 2018/2022 average, which was marked by climatic disasters.
Italy, which hasn't reported any significant weather-related incidents, will harvest about 1,000,000 tons of peaches and nectarines; a 10% increase over 2023 and 3% below the 2018/2022 average.
France expects the production of peaches and nectarines to amount to around 230,000 tons, 5% more than in 2023 and 22% above the 2018/2022 average. Although the drought persists in Roussillon, the rains in late April and May have allowed normal irrigation. In 2023, the production came close to its optimal potential, despite the drought in Roussillon, but the rains in May and June provided optimal water supply.
The year 2023 was marked by the production deficit in northern Italy due to frosts in Emilia-Romagna and the May floods in this region.
The spring drought of 2023 on both sides of the Pyrenees also raised concerns about harvest losses in Catalonia, Aragon and Roussillon, but the May and June rains made irrigation possible and saved much of the production.
After several years with losses, the supply was more abundant in 2023, which resulted in a busier market and lower selling prices for peaches and nectarines, especially for flat peaches.
For more information:
Afrucat
www.afrucat.com