On the 1st June 2015 apple production was up 3% compared to the 2014 harvest, reaching 1.57 million tons, but 4% below the 5 year average due to a decrease in acreage over the last 5 seasons.
Production in the South West returned to the average following a weak production in 2014. It is hard to make predictions at such an early stage for the PACA region (25% of national production in 2014). In the Midi-Pyrénées (16% of national production in 2014) fruit setting is difficult following good flowering. Wind and a lack of pollination have affected potential. Harvest will still be more abundant than in 2014 which was weak. Fertilisation was optimal in the Pays de la Loire (16% of national production in 2014) where the trees are heavy with fruit and will need thinning. Vegetation is not delayed despite heavy rain fall and yield should be higher than last year, although acreage is decreasing. Harvest in Aquitaine (10% of national production in 2014) will be higher than 2014; blossoming was abundant and fruit setting will be heterogeneous. Coulure is present and will be evaluated once the fruit has fallen end of June. Apple scabbing is present and at a high risk level. Potential in Limousin (4% of national production in 2014) is higher than 2014 and flowering is abundant in Languedoc-Roussillon (6% of national production in 2014) although there is high coulure leading to a lot of fruit falling (especially Gala's).
There was high competition from summer fruit at the start of the new season in September 2014. Large export sales continued but prices were lower than the previous year. Prices in October were 12% below the 5 year average. As of January the market was better for large export than for the European market which suffered from an abundant harvest in the main European apple producing countries. Prices were -4% below the 2010-2014 average. Commercialisation of Golden’s was difficult in March with prices 5% below the 2010-2014 average. Over the first 9 months of the season, from September 2014 to May 2015, the national price index decreased by 24% over a year and 15% compared to the 2010-2014 average.