French apple harvest expected to reach 1.62 million tons
On the 1st October 2015, national apple production was estimated at 1.62 million tons, a 6% increase…On the 1st October 2015, national apple production was estimated at 1.62 million tons, a 6% increase compared to the 2014 harvest and within the 2010-2014 average. Acreage has also increased over the year, by 1%, reaching 37.6 thousand hectares.
The Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, Pays de la Loire and Limousin regions were all positively effected by the latest rainfall which increased the fruits calibre. However, in the Midi-Pyrénées 35% of harvest was damaged by the storms on the 31st August and had to be redirected for processing. The Centre and Languedoc-Roussillon regions have smaller calibres, notably Grannys in the Languedoc-Roussillon.
Stock this season was primarily aimed at export, to countries in Northern Europe, before being directed to the domestic market end of September. Prices are responding well to current demand and are 24% higher than last year and 3% above the five-year average.