Medfel great start with 15% more exhibitors

The essential gathering for fresh produce in France gives good prospects for the coming summer fruit season. Located in Perpignan and sponsored by the regional authorities, Medfel 2024 edition shows great start with 15% more exhibitors (205 compagnies). International exhibitors are in progress by 25%, their visitors come from 60 countries. About 5000 delegates are indeed expected. Medfel fruitful program covers the unprecedented technological, economic and ecological issues the sector is facing: climate change became indeed the first challenge, in particular in the Languedoc-Roussillon province where severe drought is still a reality. So far some orchards should be abandoned again in 2024 due to water restrictions, since just 100mm of rain has fallen over the last 6 months in Roussillon, which is twice less then Southern Catalonia. Among other subjects on the program of conferences of Medfel 2024 are the new and more resilient production systems like dry fruit, artificial intelligence, the rise of plant-based food and the challenges of organic farming. 

Stable European crop for apricots expected

The first crop estimates by Mid-April for the European crop for apricots show so far similar volumes compared with 2023 near 524,000 tons. It represents just 2% increase from the 2018-2022 average. Disparities are of course observed by country: Spanish predictions are on the rise with 134,352 tons (+46% compared with 2023), Italy stable with 214,000 tons (-4%), Greece (87,500 -6%) and mainly France (87,000 tons -23%) are on decline. Overall levels are still bellow the European production of 2017 or 2019 which was around 650,000 tonnes. No doubt Apricots are among the fruit species the more affected by climate like warm winters, heat waves in spring, late frost. Varietal innovation is helping to reduce the impacts.