Rain and low temperatures in the north of Europe over the past couple of months have raised concerns about the commercial prospects for summer fruit production in Italy, according to one of the country's leading fresh produce industry figures.
Giancarlo Minguzzi, president of the Emilia-Romagna branch of Italy's national fresh produce trade association Fruitimprese and also president of the Minguzzi producer organisation, said he believed the Italian strawberry campaign had been hampered considerably by the poor weather and in particular by overproduction in Spain.
However, despite fears over the potential level of demand in key markets like Germany, the UK and Scandinavia, an anticipated fall in supply of Italian stonefruit – apricots, plums, peaches and nectarines – as well as predicted falls elsewhere could result in more positive results for such items.
Compared with last year's figures, Europe's major producers are together predicting a fall of 4.6 per cent in nectarine volume and a 7.9 per cent decrease in peach production. France, notably, has forecast a 19.7 per cent fall in nectarine output, while Italy's own initial estimate suggested a 9 per cent drop for both peaches and nectarines.
'The peach and nectarine campaign, which is already being harvested in the south, is currently registering smaller crops than predicted a few weeks ago and if there isn't too much crossover with Spanish product we can expect a better campaign than last time around, particularly when it comes to quality,' Minguzzi commented.
Average sizing is likely to be bigger than in 2012, he added, due to a higher level of rainfall in spring, but in terms of demand in the market things will largely depend, once again, on an improvement in the weather.
'Certainly a lot depends on the good weather returning. If the whole of Europe is hot, then we can hope for a positive market.'
Also underway in the south of Italy, the apricot harvest is likely to be shorter than normal, Minguzzi revealed, with reports of a similar situation in Spain meaning prices are expected to be strong even for those growers with only half of their normal production.
Plum output is also set to be lower than last season due to adverse conditions during the growing period.
Tailing off
Meanwhile, early cherry production in Italy's key producing region around Verona is reportedly running around three weeks late due to recent heavy rain.
Stefano Pezzo, commercial director of export company Cherry Passion, said he remained confident that volumes would continued to meet the needs of planned programmes, but warned of a possible drop-off in supply towards the end of the season.
We have just begun with Bigarreau Moreau, but volumes are still small,' he commented. 'Volumes should be good throughout the season apart from the late varieties, which have experienced some premature shedding of fruit. There has also been some hail damage but, fortunately, only in limited areas.'
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