Unió-Coag is forecasting a 15 per cent dip in stone-fruit production in the Valencia region compared to 2002. The decrease is due mainly to variations in temperature throughout the winter and into the spring.

The union also emphasised that this figure could be revised downwards still further depending on weather conditions over the coming weeks. And it also announced in a statement that the resulting stress on trees means that harvesting is likely to be running one to two weeks behind last season, although this will vary according to individual crops and varieties.

Hopefully the delays will mean the season will not suffer from an overlap in availability of varieties and sources. If so, peaks of overproduction will be avoided especially as key French and Italian regions have suffered frosts, and supply and demand are likely to be well balanced.

The Valencia region too has suffered very low temperatures and frosts in April have hit very early varieties in the Ribera Alta and Vall d'Albaida areas. As a result, fruit sizes from the Ribera Alta could be on the small side.

Reports from the union by cultivar indicate that apricots will be slightly down in volume on 2002 due to a shortage of 'cold hours'. But some varieties such as Galta Roja and Tadeo are likely to see increases in volume due to increased production coming on stream, or at least to be in line with last year, despite the inclement weather.

The extra-early peach and nectarine crops will be lower in volume than in 2002 and plums have lost out too due to the weather with the forecast for a lighter crop than last year's high volume season.

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