France peach and apricot harvests remain stable despite weather extremes

France's 2026 peach and nectarine harvest is projected to reach approximately 217,000 tons, representing a slight 1% decrease from the previous year. According to Agreste, widespread irrigation helped mitigate the impact of heatwaves, though prolonged heat reduced fruit size in several regions.

Regional variations were significant. In Occitanie, heatwaves limited fruit growth but did not cause a substantial drop in total volume due to irrigation. The Roussillon region faced losses from summer forest fires, with yields expected to match the lower 2025 levels. In the Rhône Valley, July hailstorms caused local damage, and while yields per hectare remained stable, a reduction in orchard area may lead to a 4% decrease in total regional production.

Market conditions remain strong. High consumer demand driven by the heatwave has kept prices stable and comparable to last year, exceeding the five-year average (2021–2025) by 9%.

Similarly, the French apricot harvest is expected to be stable at approximately 100,600 tons, only 1% below 2025 levels and 2% above the five-year average. While the Rhône Valley saw a 16% yield increase due to crop alternation, Occitanie experienced a 22% decline in production due to spring weather issues, including excessive rainfall during flowering and fruit drop.