While the recent frosts in Israel have proven devastating for certain crops, stonefruit has weathered the cold snap better than most.
Steve Hopkins, salesman at Agrexco UK, told freshinfo: “It’s been a strange winter - the frost has been devastating, but when it comes to stonefruit crops, it almost works in their favour, as they are given plenty of the chilling hours required to produce good-quality fruit.
“We are now in a stage of cautious optimism, as literally at this very moment the trees are blossoming. If the weather continues and temperatures keep to the norm for this time of the year, it could mean that we could start the season in early May, one or two weeks earlier than last year. But as we all know, a lot can happen between now and then.”
Agrexco is concentrating on developing speciality varieties, particularly at the top end of the market, for all stonefruit - apricots, plums, nectarines and peaches. “Red Flesh and the Aromacot were extremely successful last year, a situation that we hope to repeat this season,” said Hopkins.
“We are also looking at expanding our growing areas, still with the same grower base, but developing orchards more to the south, to complement those already in the north. This should enable us to start the season earlier, as the fruit will be brought on more quickly in the south. We also plan to continue the season through to November, with later varieties,” Hopkins added.
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