The surface area of French orchards fell by just over 17 per cent between 2000 and 2010, according to the latest inventory from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Fruit-growing land was reduced by 28,000ha during this period to 134,000ha.
Therewas a fall in the hecterage of every type of fruit, with the exception of kiwi, which was stable and also nuts, whose production area increased, driven by dynamic domestic and international markets.
Orchardsdedicated to peach and pear cultivation were hardest-hit, being reducedby 40 per cent and 45 per cent respectively. However, the decline in production areas for apricots and plums was limited to six per cent.
Anumber of reasons are given for the shrinkage in French orchards - fiercer competition from producers in southern Europe, high production and distribution costs in France and episodes of abnormal weather.
Asa consequence of France's waning fruit-growing capacity, the number of businesses in the sector fell by just over 29 per cent between 2000 and 2010, the Ministry of Agriculture's figures also reveal.
The number of businesses was reduced from 24,000 to 17,000.
Onceagain, the rate of decline varied according to the type of fruit cultivated. For example, the number of pear and peach producers was halved but the decrease was limited to 10 per cent for firms specialsingin kiwi and nut cultivation.
The average surface of orchards per business increased by more than one hectare to reach eight hectares.
Despite the decline in the size of its orchards, France remains Europe's third-leading fruit producer behind Spain and Italy.
