Weekly Stone Fruits Market Updates
Primary stone fruit producers in Europe are already trading within European markets, with other origins contributing to the supply. Germany and France's wholesale markets provide valuable pricing data, and our experts offer insights into this week's stone fruit market conditions while Wikifarmer transactions are also giving important information. We gather price information from the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the French Market News Network.
In the European apricot market, Spanish shipments continue to dominate despite the diverse origins of available apricots. French and Italian supplies follow closely in volume, while contributions from Greece, the Republic of Moldova, Hungary, and Austria remain minor. Additionally, Turkey has been sending increasing amounts of apricots, which generally attract considerable attention for their sweetness. Domestic German apricots were sporadically available, with customers in Frankfurt paying between €4.30 and €5 per kilo, compared to Mediterranean apricots priced around €3 per kg. Demand was high, as improved summer weather enhanced storage possibilities, leading to frequent price increases. However, prices also fell at times due to an overly abundant supply.
Spanish and Turkish deliveries dominated in the cherry sector, while German and Greek offers lagged in volume, with Italian supplies complementing the range. Overall supply was limited, with only German batches showing a noticeable increase. The products did not always meet customer expectations, with issues such as instability, small sizes, lack of flavor, and unsatisfactory coloring being noted. However, some cherries were very exclusive in terms of taste and quality. This resulted in a wide price range, with high procurement costs occasionally hindering sales. Serbian Regina cherries in Berlin and Slovak Kordia cherries in Hamburg sold quickly due to their attractive price-quality ratio.
However, as adverse weather conditions in Europe have affected crops lately, Spanish production has yet to be left untouched. In Extremadura, recent incessant rains have devastated the cherry crop, damaging 12 thousand tons of the remaining 25 thousand tons to be harvested, following earlier hailstorms that had already compromised 15 thousand tons out of the 50 thousand initially expected. This marks the third consecutive season of significant losses in the region, exacerbated by the low percentage of insured products, with compensation covering only 4 million of the estimated 25 million euros in losses. The Union of Extremadura has urgently requested a meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture to address the issue and to discuss restructuring agricultural insurance to provide effective and affordable coverage. Agricultural organizations also seek a comprehensive damage assessment, emphasizing the dire situation and the need for improved insurance to ensure farmers' economic stability in northern Extremadura.
Completing the stone fruit scene in Central European markets, Spanish nectarines and peaches dominated Italian varieties, while French, Greek, and Turkish offerings also complemented the market. Overall availability increased, and the selection of sizes expanded, but demand couldn't keep up with the extensive supply. As a result, traders often had to offer discounts to avoid larger surpluses, with Spanish and Italian products particularly affected by the price reductions.
As mentioned in our previous post, cherry production in France was not affected by the cold weather at the beginning of May, with a high supply. However, peach and nectarine crops have reported some challenges. Representatives of French peach and apricot organizations have reported the challenging start to the 2024 summer fruit campaign. Unfavorable conditions, including adverse weather, reduced purchasing power, and political instability, have slowed down the marketing of stone fruits. They highlighted the importance of supporting French agriculture during these difficult times and the need for the appreciation of national products to drive economic growth in the sector.
The two leaders are urging retailers and wholesalers to prioritize French products, criticizing the lack of focus on local goods. They point out that many sales outlets continue to offer imported produce, even during the main harvest season. This neglect of French products, mainly when the agricultural sector is a key economic driver, has frustrated producers. In mid-June, fruit producers in the Roussillon region protested by dumping 20 tonnes of summer fruit, including apricots and nectarines, in front of Intermarché branches to express their displeasure over the dominance of Spanish imports. These fruits were infested with pests and undersized due to water shortages, reflecting the dire situation for producers amid drought and water scarcity.
Producers are demanding decisive action to support local agriculture. With only 100,000 of the 400,000 tonnes of peaches consumed in France being locally produced, they argue that there should be more shelf space for French products. The agricultural leaders warn that further protests may ensue if retailers do not prioritize local produce. It is stressed that this is a critical period and vow to hold retailers accountable for misleading statements about product origins and for not promoting French goods, emphasizing their commitment to defending French agriculture.