The Minister of Agriculture expects French apple production to plummet by 11% in 2017 compared to 2016. Orchards in the PACA region have been effected by frost in April and loss is between 10-100% depending on the orchard. The first estimations predict a 15% decrease in production over the year.
The 2% production loss varies depending on the region and the varieties. Production plummeted by 4% after grubbing over the year in the Languedoc and Roussillon. Despite a 3% increase expected in yield, production has slightly decreased.
Damage from frost in the Pays de la Loire varies and has gone up to 30% in some places. There is expected to be less thinning than normal. Production is expected to decrease by 10% compared to 2016.
Frost has led to a 26% decrease in harvest in the Limousin and up to 90% loss in the Rhone Valley. According to the first predictions, production will decrease by 7%. In the Centre-Val de Loire, harvest will decrease by 18% over the year due to the April frosts. Later losses could occur from possible aesthetic defaults at harvest.