The estimate of the present harvest of apricots amounted to 176,700 tons on 1 July. This is an increase of 14% compared to the moderate harvest of 2011 and of 23% compared to the average of the last five years. The national area of apricot orchards is the same as last year.
This increase is in the regions PACA and Rhône-Alpes, in Provence Alpes Côte-d’Azur the harvest is smaller than originally expected in June because of rain and hail, but nevertheless in 2012 it is 56% bigger than last year and 39% compared to the five year average. The harvest in Rhône-Alpes is 12% more than in 2011 and +29% when compared to the average of the last five years. The fruit has a good size and quality, but have suffered hail damage in some areas in the Drôme and the Ardèche.
In Languedoc-Roussillon production remains the same and has increased by 2% compared to the five year average. Gard experienced an increase, but this compensates for the losses from hail and cold during the month of May in Roussillion.
The area in this region remains the same, but there was an increase in Roussillion and a decrease in Gard.
In the whole of Europe apricot production increases this year after the bad year in 2011. The harvest increases in total by 22% compared to last year and by 14% compared to the five year average. Italy, the most important European apricot producer experiences an increase of 8%, Greece of 48% and Spain also has a much higher production than in 2011 (+59%).