In France, the 2021 apricot harvest will be 43% lower than in 2020

The 2021 apricot harvest will be the weakest in at least 46 years, according to estimates compiled by Agreste. The frost that occurred in around April will severely cut French production, which should reach a lower volume (-43%) than 2020 production as well as that of the 2016-2020 average (-60%).

 

 

 

Agreste, the statistics service of the Ministry of Agriculture, indicates in a report drawn up in early May that apricot production for the 2021 campaign is estimated at 48,800 tonnes. That is a drop of 43% compared to the already low production of 2020 and 60% compared to the 2016-2020 average. This 2021 production will be the lowest production for at least 46 years. In the Rhône Valley, the frost was intense and prolonged, only a quarter of the production of a normal year is expected.

 

 

At European level, according to forecasts announced during the medFEL online event, the frost has also hit hard and should lead to the lowest production in the last 30 years. The 2021 European harvest would fall by 20% compared to the already low 2020 harvest, and by 40% compared to the 2015-2019 average. Compared to the average of the last 5 years, production is expected to fall by around 40% in Italy, around 30% in Spain and around 25% in Greece.