Fruit harvests in France and Czech Republic decline due to weather

Fruit harvests in France and the Czech Republic are facing significant declines due to extreme weather conditions, including drought, heatwaves, and frost.

In France, the cider and juice apple production is expected to drop by approximately 30% compared to last year, potentially falling below 200,000 tonnes. Jean-Louis Benassi of the Interprofession des cidres de France noted that this could be the lowest harvest in nearly two decades. The severe drought and high temperatures have impacted 9,000 hectares of orchards, which may lead to inevitable price increases for consumers to ensure adequate compensation for producers.

In the Czech Republic, apple and pear harvests are also suffering. Estimates from the Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture (ÚKZÚZ) suggest apple production will reach 48,530 tonnes, a 58% decrease from the previous year. Pear production is expected to drop by 51%. These declines are attributed to spring frosts, prolonged drought, and hail, which have resulted in smaller fruit sizes and a lower percentage of marketable produce. The Czech fruit producers' union expects revenue losses in the sector to exceed one billion koruna.