French apple production in southern France escaped storm and hail damage last week thanks to the localised nature of the storms and effective orchard protection, shippers report.
But the start of the nation’s apple season - heralded by the Royal Gala harvest - is still some two weeks delayed due to a protracted winter and cool spring that slowed down fruit development.
“2013 will be an historically late season for us,” Marc Peyres, export manager for French fruit grower-shipper Blue Whale, told Fruitnet. “It’s the latest season start we’ve had since we started growing Royal Gala in the 1990s.”
Yet French growers still anticipate a good quality apple crop with good colour, and are looking forward to strong international demand.
“The European crop is only slightly higher than last year, which was an unusually small crop,” Peyres said. “In Western Europe, the harvest is expected to be the second smallest in 10 years, so we should have a favourable global market.”
Smaller-than-average apple sizes for certain varieties, including Royal Gala, could present shippers with a challenge at the start of the export deal, he added. “But I think we’ll overcome this and have a good season much like last year for many varieties,” said Peyres.
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