Apple production is estimated normal

In rise compared to the weak harvest of 2012 but close to the level of 5 years average.

According Agreste, Ministry of Agriculture, apple production is expected to reach 1.7 million tons. Up by 25% compared to the poor harvest 2012 and a level close to the average of the last 5 years (+1%).

The cool weather conditions of spring conditioned the sizes, mainly of early varieties, which are heterogeneous and should be mostly quite small. The delay of vegetation could lead to a possible increase in size for later varieties.

In Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, the bicolor varieties, sensitive to high temperatures, represent deficits in coloring. In Pays de Loire region, the fruit size may be small to medium, the production is lower than the 2008-2012 average, because of the lower surfaces. In Midi-Pyrenees region, the sizes are heterogeneous and predominantly small. In Rhône-Alpes region and Central region, the sizes are average.

source : agreste