French stone fruit production weather impacts

Agricultural reports from France indicate varying impacts on stone fruit production due to extreme weather. In the Pyrénées-Orientales department, specifically in Espira de l'Agly, apricot producers reported devastating losses. Some producers, such as Maison Banyuls, lost approximately 90% of their apricot crop due to a combination of prolonged drought, limited irrigation from the Agly River, and damage from Storm Nils and subsequent hail.

On a broader national scale, projections for the 2026 harvest suggest more stability. The French apricot harvest is expected to be approximately 100,600 tons, representing only a 1% decrease from 2025 and a 2% increase over the five-year average. While the Occitanie region saw a 22% decline in apricot production due to spring weather issues like excessive rainfall and fruit drop, the Rhône Valley experienced a 16% yield increase.

Peach and nectarine harvests are also projected to remain relatively stable at approximately 217,000 tons, a slight 1% decrease from the previous year. Although heatwaves reduced fruit size in some areas, widespread irrigation helped mitigate total volume losses.