Stone Fruits Market Digest w22

Weekly Stone Fruits Market Updates

Main Price Movements in the EU

The primary stone fruit producers in Europe have already begun trading with European markets, with the warm summer weather anticipated to drive up demand. Germany and France's wholesale markets offer valuable price data, with insights provided by our experts on this week's stone fruit market conditions. We collect price data from the  German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the French Market News Network.

In the Central European market, Spanish apricots are predominant, followed by Italian and French produce; Greek imports of stone fruits are mostly limited to Frankfurt and Munich, meanwhile Turkish imports are widely available. In terms of fruit quality, some are overly ripe or lacking flavor, leading to the need for discounts because of the substantial delivery volumes.

Spanish produce is leading in peaches and nectarines as well; the season has been ongoing for several weeks, with smaller quantities from Italy and Turkey. The market seems well-stocked with sizes AA, A, and B, adequately meeting demand, though interest could have been higher. Sellers often had to offer discounts due to the large volumes of produce. Additionally, the influx of Platerinas and Paraguayos increased, receiving a favorable response despite their higher prices. 

As offers vary in origin, prices are slowly declining, with Greek cherries remaining stable due to limited availability. However, this week saw a significant price drop in the Rungis market, with Spanish and French cherries for category I size 26++ mm dropping by an average of 50%.

In early May, the Netherlands reported the presence of Phosmet, a toxic substance found in phytosanitary products, in Greek cherries. Although the produce was recalled, it had already been exported to numerous countries. On May 26, 2023, the European Commission published a regulation reducing the maximum allowed limits for Phosmet to 0.01 mg/kg. In Greece, the use of this substance is prohibited, yet a concentration of 0.14 mg/kg was detected in the cherries. At Wikifarmer, we prioritize sourcing quality by rigorously checking our producers' certifications and conducting lab tests to ensure we provide safe products.

Regarding the French apricot campaign, specifically in the Saint-Paul region, which belongs to the main area of apricot production, 500 tons are expected from 300 hectares of orchards, which is only 50% of the potential yield due to unfavorable weather during flowering that affected pollination. Some apricot varieties were more impacted than others, resulting in reduced fruit production. The harvest began on May 13, with flavorful varieties now entering the market. The market is starting slowly, with around 50 tons harvested weekly, but the higher prices of Spanish apricots are making French apricots more attractive to distributors. The stone fruit campaign is progressing well, with good sales and no stockpiles, and the market is expected to improve depending on weather conditions. 

Uzbekistan entering late the cherry market this season

In the spring of 2024, Uzbekistan experienced unusually cool and rainy weather, which delayed the ripening of many fruits, including cherries. This weather not only postponed the harvest but also negatively impacted the quality of the cherries. Typically, the first wholesale lots of cherries appear in late April, but this year they were delayed until mid-May, and the available cherries were of lower quality. As a result, there are still no large quantities of high-quality, large-sized (28+ mm) cherries on the market. These larger cherries are particularly desirable for export, especially to China. Prices for smaller cherries (less than 26 mm) are currently high for this time of year.

The delay in the cherry season, which usually ends by mid-June, means it has only just begun by late May. This could pose export problems, as other regions, such as Ukraine, have already started harvesting their cherries. Consequently, there is a possibility that cherry prices in Uzbekistan may decline faster than usual if the harvest meets or exceeds preliminary expectations.

French Distributors opposing to the AGEC law

As mentioned in an earlier Digest, the French government is applying the AGEC law, which bans plastic packaging for fruits and vegetables weighing less than 1.5kg. The French State Council may annul the decree issued under the law, after many stakeholders declared their disapproval, by emphasizing the need for more time to develop alternative packaging and the significant additional costs involved. The fruit and vegetable sector, particularly peach and apricot producers, faces an estimated additional expense of 10 to 12 million euros due to the packaging change. Opponents argue that the immediate application of the regulation puts French operators at a competitive disadvantage and request a postponement until a European regulation is established.

Producers and distributors are awaiting the State Council's decision, which is expected between June 10th and July 10th. If the decree is annulled, the sector might revert to plastic packaging for the 2024 season while continuing to test alternatives. The current bio-sourced films and cardboard trays are unsuitable, as they absorb moisture from stone fruits, leading to product degradation and high loss risk in stores. The sector seeks an additional year to improve and test more resilient and suitable packaging solutions.