The amount of cultivated areas in northern Italy continues to drop, especially in Emilia-Romagna, where full production orchards dropped by 7% for peaches and 6% for nectarines in 2017. Piedmont is experiencing a smaller drop and Veneto has stabilised after years of strong reductions. Southern Italy is instead generally stable, with Puglia actually experiencing an increase in cultivated areas.
The north eliminated the varieties less appreciated by the market due to the colour of their peel and flavour. This is improving the overall quality of the supplies.
The lower temperatures do not seem to have affected production, with the exception of some areas in the north.
Despite the production drop expected in the north (-3% for peaches and -8% for nectarines), the Italian supply should increase compared to last year, due to the fact that production has gone back to good levels in the south.
A 10% increase in fresh peaches is expected in 2016, combined with +5% for nectarines and +24% for percoca peaches.
Over 1.3 million tons of peaches and nectarines will be destined to fresh consumption, i.e. +7% than last year and -5% of the 2013-2015 average.
Harvesting seems to be staggered well, similarly to last year when luckily there were no overlaps. Weekly volumes are expected to be higher at the beginning and until mid-June due to the large volumes from the south however, from mid/late June onward, quantities are expected to be lower than last year. The production peak is expected to be 30,000 tons lower than 1015.
Larger quantities are expected from European competitors, especially at the start of the season. In Spain, the weather was normal in winter and there was no damage due to the drop in temperatures in spring. Production should reach 1.5 million tons (peaches + doughnut peaches + nectarines + percoca peaches) as cultivated areas have increased year after year. Spain now produces more than Italy.
Volumes should increase in Greece as well after the drop in production experienced in 2016.
On a European level, 3 million tons of peaches and nectarines will be destined to the fresh produce market, i.e. +10% than 2016 and a little more than the 2011-2015 average.