According to CSO Italy data, the European supply of peaches and nectarines will be lower than last year.
For what concerns fresh peaches, quantities in Italy are expected to be little below 1.4 million tons. Supplies in Spain are similar to last year (thanks to the fact that Saturn peaches compensate the lack of traditional ones). Production in Greece grew, but volumes remain below average and production in France also dropped.
The quantities of Percoca peaches might drop slightly with respect to 2015 - while Greece produced more of them, volumes in Spain diminished.
Nectarine production in Europe is expected to be 6% less than last year, with a supply of little over 1.4 million tons. Only Greece should produce little more than usual.
"Although there should be less produce available, it should be available gradually and therefore be distributed better throughout the season," explains CSO director Elisa Macchi (in the photo).
"There should be no overlaps between North and South and, if the weather is good, we will not have the peaks of availability we experienced in 2014 and 2015."
The drop in production in Italy will not concern all varieties - a consistent drop is expected in the South, and especially in Campania, for peaches. The situation will be the same for Percoca peaches while nectarine production is expected to drop in the North too.