According to the summary of the summer fruit situation published in 2021 by Agreste, the Bureau for Statistics of the French Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the historically low harvests due to the April frost have led to an increase in producer prices compared to 2020, but this was not enough to compensate for the decrease in production. Revenues dropped for apricots and the cherries, but remained steady for peaches and nectarines.
Apricots: historic drop in production
In 2021, the French apricot harvest is estimated at 56,000 tons (t), which is less than half of the annual production average for 2016-2020. It is the lowest production in 42 years due to the historic spring frost which affected all producing regions, and especially the Rhône Valley. The latest varieties like the Bergeron, mainly grown in the Rhône Valley, were the most affected.
Apricots: historically low European production
According to the international business fair for the fruit and vegetable sector of the Mediterranean (medFEL), the European apricot production is down by 20% compared to the already low harvest of 2020 and by 37% compared to the average level of the 2016-2020 campaigns. It is the lowest production in at least 20 years, a consequence of the frost that severely affected all of the apricot producing European countries. In Italy, Greece and Spain, a third of the harvest was lost compared to the average level from 2016-2020.
Peaches: production clearly in decline
In 2021, the French peach-nectarine harvest, estimated at 146,000t, was 19% smaller than last year and 26% smaller than the 2016-2020 average (graph 2). The yields were the lowest observed in 23 years. The frost affected all producing regions. In the Rhône Valley, less than half the harvest was expected, after an already low production in 2019 and 2020. In Occitania, the losses were more limited (-6% compared to last year).
Peaches: historically low European production
Cherries: lowest harvest in half a century
In 2021, the French cherry harvest, estimated at 16,000t, was cut in half compared to last year and to the 5-year average. No production basin was spared by the frost in April, especially the Rhône Valley. France saw the lowest production and yields in at least 46 years. The early varieties were affected the most by the frost. The production campaign was spread out over time, due to the delays in vegetation.
Increase in summer fruit exports, except for peaches
For the 2021 campaign (from May until August), French apricot exports increased by 20% compared to 2020, after having dropped by half in 2020 (table 1). Exports increased in a context where the European market was experiencing a historical shortage of apricots. However, the volumes remained 58% lower than the 2016-2020 average.
During the same period, imports decreased by 10% compared to the 5-year average. This decrease can be explained for the most part by the lower volumes from Spain due to the frost which reduced the country’s export potential. Regarding cherries, France also increased its exports from May to July 2021 compared to the same period in 2020 (+10%), but reduced them by 27% compared to the 2016-2020 average. The lower French production mainly affected the early varieties, so the late cherries, which were more spared, were exported the most. During the same period, imports, most of which came from Spain, nearly doubled compared to the average level. From June to August 2021, French peach exports decreased compared to 2020 (-9% on average) and to the 2016-2020 average (-24%). In parallel, imports, mostly from Spain, were 12% lower than last year, but similar to the 5-year average.
Higher producer prices
In 2021, producer prices for apricots were 3% higher than the high prices of 2020 and 38% higher than the 2016-2020 average. In May, the offer was reduced, and so were the sales. Mass retailers preferred the Spanish product and were waiting for the French supply to increase. In June 2021, prices increased (+12% compared to last year and +45% compared to the 2016-2020 average). At the beginning of the month, the heterogeneous quality of the fruit pushed the operators to sell the batches for “apricot jam”. The demand was then sluggish and stocks started building up. Then, with the arrival of the summer weather and tastier varieties on the market, the demand became more firm. The retail actions promoted French apricots which replaced the Spanish products, already less present this year on the shelves. The market was more fluid.
Household apricot purchases for home consumption from May to July 2020 decreased by a quarter compared to the previous year, mainly due to the loss in production.
Between June and September 2021, peach-nectarine prices increased by a quarter in one year (+43% higher than the average prices of 2016-2020. In June 2021, prices were firm (+22% compared to 2020, and +43% compared to the 5-year average) due to the limited offer. The campaign started with products from the Roussillon (with a delay compared to 2020), followed by products from the Gard and Crau. The market was dynamic for the nectarines, but not for peaches, with promotional actions organized in large supermarkets.
For the entire 2021 campaign (from May until July), cherry producer prices increased by 50% compared to last year and to the 2016-2020 average. The marketing campaign came later than in 2020. In May 2021, cherry prices were clearly higher than in 2020 (+34%) and the 2016-2020 average (+50%). Supply was limited due to the frost affecting early varieties the most. The demand, which was very present at the end of the month, could not be satisfied. Additionally, the quality of the first cherries harvested was variable, which did not help promote the fruit on the shelves. In May, the volumes from Spain were almost twice the usual volumes, depending on the arrivals on the Saint-Charles market in Perpignan.
In June 2021, cherry prices were clearly higher than in 2020 (+48%) and higher than the 2016-2020 average (+51%). The demand was present but the high prices restrained consumption, especially at the end of the month when the temperatures were also cooler. Prices were then lowered in an attempt to maintain sales. The competition from Spain was also strong, especially on the wholesale markets where the imported volumes were higher than in previous years.
In 2021, decline in national revenue from summer fruits, except for peaches
In 2021, the production revenue for French apricots was reduced by a third at the national level compared to last year and to the 2016-2020 average. The strong decline in the quantities produced did not compensate for the higher prices (graph 3). However, this national trend masks disparities between regions and between producers, depending on the impact of the weather on each farm. In the Rhône Valley and Provence, the revenue was cut in half compared to 2020, but it remained stable in Languedoc and Roussillon.
From June to September 2021, the peach revenue increased at the national level (+1% from 2020, and +6% compared to the 2016-2020 average (graph 4)). The price increase did more than offset the decrease in production. Nevertheless, this evolution was variable depending on each production basin and producer.
At the French national level, the decrease in cherry production outweighs the price increase and the 2021 revenue was cut by a third compared to last year and the 2016-2020 average (graph 5). It is lower than in 2020 for all production basins, but it is higher in the Languedoc and Roussillon where the crops were less affected by the frost.