France has seen almost all types of orchard decrease in size over the last decade, according to a study from Agreste Primeur, a publication of the ministry of agriculture.
Between 2000 and 2010, the total surface area planted with fruit trees fell by 17 per cent to approximately 134,000ha.
Peaches and pears recording the biggest decrease, their growing areas dropping by 40 and 45 per cent respectively.
In the Rhône-Alpes region, the planted area for peaches has fallen by almost two-thirds, primarily due to uprooting necessitated by the plum pox virus.
Meanwhile, the production area for apples has diminished by 20 per cent, while plums and apricots have fared slightly better, losing six per cent of their planted area.
The only orchards to escape a decrease in size are for nuts and kiwifruit, with the production area for walnuts growing by a quarter in the last 10 years, and kiwifruit remaining stable.
The number of fruit-growing farms has also fallen, from 24,000 in 2000 to some 17,000 in 2010, while individual orchard sizes have increased on average.
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