Production of Jazz-branded apples in Europe this season is expected to be similar to last year at around 17,000 tonnes, according to Enzafruit NZ (Continent), the company responsible for marketing the fruit across the EU.
As the New Zealand Jazz season comes to an end, the new campaign's first volumes from south-east France are due to be loaded in mid-October, followed by the arrival of fruit from south-west France and South Tyrol in Italy towards the end of the month.
"The expected harvest from France this year will be lower in volume," revealed a spokesperson for Enza. "But this lower volume will be compensated by the young plantations in South Tyrol."
According to the company, cold weather during the spring months has caused a slight decrease in average sizing compared with previous Jazz apple seasons.
Fruit colour and flavour, however, have been described as "very good" thanks to favourable conditions during the ripening period.
