Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks The first apricots of the Ninfa variety are already being harvested in Puglia Approximately 4-5 tonnes/day enter the warehouse of the Spina Group which are then processed and sent to Italian customers The volumes will tend to double starting from next week (the 17th in 2025) The company is based in San Ferdinando di Puglia (BAT) explains that "We are among the first in Europe to have new-season stone fruit on the market Harvesting operations started on 15 April in greenhouses which allows us to test the market and get a feel of operators as well as to obtain satisfactory quotations We are gradually starting with supplies to the fruit and vegetable markets in Verona As soon as we start with the uncovered plants we will also start shipping to European supermarkets." First packages shipped to the Italian markets The entrepreneur explains that it will take at least another 15 days before harvesting can begin in the open fields "The last three weeks have been characterised by frequent and considerable temperature fluctuations which has slowed down the growth and ripening phases." But while the new stone fruit season that has just started seems to be promising on the commercial front farmers are seriously concerned on an agronomic level we are registering a reduction in yields of over 15% for open field plants We are experiencing difficulties in getting the crops going as early as April If the plants are not irrigated in the coming months and we will have to revise estimates downwards The Apulian company Spina Group grows various cultivars (both early and late) thereby exceeding 100 hectares dedicated to apricots with a commercial calendar that extends to late September For more informationSpina Group Srl Via Giovanni Nicotera, 5476017 San Ferdinando di Puglia (BT) - Italy+39 345 848 12 22[email protected] FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com San Ferdinando shanty town cleared in first major eviction after launch of hardline immigration measures in the largest eviction since Italy’s rightwing populist government’s immigration measures kicked in On Wednesday morning, almost 1,000 paramilitary police officers surrounded the 400 shacks where the migrants have lived since the camp was established in 2010 As people were ushered out clutching their few possessions bulldozers demolished the shanty town of cardboard and wood huts in a matter of hours “As promised … we went from words to actions,” said the interior minister, Matteo Salvini, head of the far-right League party. The majority of the camp’s inhabitants are from sub-Saharan Africa and worked in nearby farmers’ fields as illegal agricultural workers for paltry, exploitative wages In February, the mayor of San Ferdinando, Andrea Tripodi, said the camp was a danger to health and a fire risk Four people have died in fires there over the past year Salvini had promised to relocate them to reception centres, but several refugees told Italian media they were looking to find shelter in abandoned houses in the countryside. Aid groups condemned the authorities, arguing that the demolition will increase homelessness and risk social unrest told the Guardian that the camp was home to at least 200 women “I just hope they will find a safe place for them,” she said “They are vulnerable women who need help and support.’’ Two months later another informal shantytown, Borreano, in Basilicata, which also housed hundreds of African workers, was demolished. Last May the informal camp in Campobello di Mazara in Sicily was demolished by the local authorities, who deemed it too dangerous for people to live there because of the human waste scattered around an area that had no electricity, toilets or showers. Read moreMigrant labour is a booming business in Sicily not only for farmers but also for the contractors who recruit men and women to work illegally in the fields Some Africans who have seen their camps destroyed say they are being paid €2 (£1.71) an hour According to the Italian Union of Farmers (UILA) 36% of workers employed in the agricultural sector are foreigners Laws passed in 2017 promised eight-year prison sentences for those recruiting and exploiting migrant workers But Italian labour unions say up to 300,000 illegal workers continue to generate billions of euros a year in profit for Italy’s agricultural sector You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed The Local Europe ABVästmannagatan 43113 25 StockholmSweden Please log in here to leave a comment The harvesting of the first Patagonia nectarines in the San Ferdinando di Puglia and Trinitapoli (Apulia) started a week ago but prices are currently higher than last year very few Patagonia nectarine trees have survived Even the plants that have managed to bear a few fruits have been affected by cracking Luckily we are harvesting healthy high-quality fruits but grades do not meet expectations - they are not small We really hope this is only the first phase and that the nectarines we will harvest in 10-15 days' time will have better grades."   is making approximately €0,30 more than last year "As this is the second year of production of a new orchard yields should be 30-40% more than last year."   Talking about climate change and the resulting difficulties Bollino stresses that "we are going through a phase of 'solar minimum' a period within the solar cycle characterized by a lower Sun activity This can determine the late frost registered over the past few years as well as lower temperatures in general The stone fruit campaign will continue over the next few years with other nectarine "Next year we will introduce Saturn peaches and the first orchards will start producing after 2.5-3 years."  The harvest of greenhouse apricots has started about two weeks earlier than usual in the southern Italian region of Apulia owner of the homonymous cultivation company in San Ferdinando di Puglia Francesco grows various types of stone fruit on an area of about 50 hectares we are harvesting and selling about 5 tons per day of apricots of the Ninfa variety These volumes will tend to double as early as next week We are splitting up the quantities in order to try to satisfy all customers to some extent We supply several Italian wholesale markets "We opened the 2022 campaign three days ago thanks to the use of innovative covering films and burners with which we were able to keep the internal temperature always high and constant (minimum 10-12°C and maximum around 20°C) even in cold periods allow us to establish solid and lasting business relationships with different Italian and European markets being able to guarantee them supplies of apricots peaches and nectarines since the end of April We will continue with the collection of these products until the first ten days of September." "The selling prices of the first fruits are similar to those of last year we have to take into account the price increases of fuel We are satisfied with how the start of the season is going both in terms of cultivation and commercially because we have the opportunity to enter the market earlier than our competitors The size is good (45-55 mm) and the fruit has a homogeneous color We deliver the apricots in plastic one-kilogram trays Southern Italy has so far lacked the right number of hours of cold weather for peach and nectarine plantings and higher than average seasonal temperatures have pushed plants of super-early varieties Flowering Early Bomba nectarine trees (photo: Nicola Bollino) "We are talking about at least a 20- to 25-day earlier date," explains stone fruit producer Nicola Bollino whose farm is located in the area between San Ferdinando di Puglia and Trinitapoli "The fears of losing all the super-early (and early) production are numerous and rightly felt Weather forecasts speak of an extreme cold wave coming After several years in a row in which super-early and early peach and nectarine varieties have been hit by spring frosts this would be yet another campaign to forget On many cultivars there are already few buds due to the summer heat." Super-early nectarine trees: opening of flower buttons (photo: Nicola Bollino) the trend in recent years has been to replace super-early and early plantings with medium-late and late varieties which ripen in the July-August-September period precisely to avoid possible spring frosts and winter tail blows "The production of super-early and early peaches and nectarines will producing them this year would already be an achievement." Price increases and inflation are holding back investments in the sector                                                                                                "The situation is really unstable for the fruit and vegetable sector," continues Bollino "It is risky now to try to make new investments have not purchased additional land this campaign because of the price increases that continue to be registered for the purchase of manure fertilizer and other means of working the land We are talking about at least 40 percent more than the increases already counted last year it is impossible to find skilled labor and Super-precocious nectarine trees in bloom (photo: Nicola Bollino) I decided to devote more care and attention than usual to my 50 hectares without adding more danger to the already calculated business risk Quoting the title of a famous Italian comedy film let's hope that I survive!" concluded Bollino Frosty conditions in orchards in many countries this year have led to a slower start to many stone fruit productions across the globe with Spain and Italy being particularly hard hit this situation has benefited sellers in import markets such as the Netherlands as well as those unaffected by these weather conditions like Turkey and South Africa China is facing a particularly difficult season as increases in production lead to lower prices The Netherlands: A little less supply is not necessarily bad for the stone fruit marketThe Spanish stone fruit season is starting to get underway stone fruit has suffered considerable frost damage and my Spanish suppliers are also expecting somewhat lower production than in other years a little less is often not such a bad thing It keeps the demand in the product and usually results in a better price Whereas with melons you see that warm weather immediately causes an upturn in the market this is less the case in the early stages of the stone fruit season Many people are starting to feel summery around about now and are looking for something new you often see that with sunny weather sales are much easier," says a Dutch importer "With peaches we are now primarily in the thicker sizes (26-28) Sales prices for 4 kg laid are for the thickest sizes around 7.50-8 euros 6.50-7 euros for the medium sizes and the smallest sizes around 6 euros The price of nectarines is just one euro higher across the board The price of the paraguayos is around 15-16 euro Belgium: Warm weather stimulates demand for stone fruitThe Spanish stone fruit season is in full swing at the moment the good weather of the past few days has created a lot of demand "It is said that certain regions in Spain have less supply because of frost damage but we don't notice anything about it as far as supply is concerned nectarines and apricots are very good and the taste is very good." For good quality stone fruit Spain: Early frosts and cool weather hamper production and salesThe Spanish stone fruit season started in mid-April in Andalusia and Murcia as these regions were barely affected by frosts The earliest peach and nectarine harvests are currently starting in Lleida where the production is expected to be one of the lowest in the last 30 years due to the impact of the frost Although the demand has not yet taken off as it should Last year there was a noticeable lack of volumes and prices were good This year the sector also predicts a good season as there will be even a lower supply than last year in Spain from this month on as well as in other European producing countries despite there being around 40% fewer apricots available on the market as the demand has been slowed down by poor weather across much of the European continent The earliest varieties are not the most flavourful despite having the minimum required sugar levels as they need to be harvested a little earlier due to their faster post-harvest development This is a factor that plays against their consumption Not to mention that large retail chains haven’t yet opened all their stone fruit lines Everything is expected to change from this month on when the summer comes and brings the necessary heat to boost the sales The biggest decrease in production will be noticeable in apricots and 25-30% for nectarines compared to a normal year Italy: Unfavourable weather conditions affect production across regionsSicily entered the middle of the open field apricot campaign around 15 May preceded by small quantities from cultivation under glass The best quality varieties with excellent texture and appearance are priced at the producer at € 0.50 to € 0.80 per kg The apricot campaign will continue until the second ten days of August As far as peaches and nectarines are concerned small volumes have already been harvested in May while the early varieties in the open field started a few days ago with the last harvests taking place in early October apricots such as Tsunami and Pricia are currently being harvested The early fruit season has been disappointing Quantities are still limited at the moment higher volumes and good sales are expected Apricots are destined for Germany and Austria The commercial campaign for peaches and nectarines began at the end of May and will end Despite some slight damage due to the aforementioned frosts production forecasts indicate increasing volumes for the 2021 season the Ninfa apricot harvest has been completed and the Mogador and Pricia have been harvested Unfavourable weather conditions in recent months have slightly affected the size of the fruit as well as delaying ripening by 10-12 days Flariba nectarines and Plagold peaches are also being harvested both with an average size of around 17.5 mm quality and flavour are still guaranteed and the high temperatures at the moment will allow the fruit to ripen more quickly and therefore provide greater volumes in the area between San Ferdinando di Puglia and Trinitapoli the harvest of Patagonia nectarines has started The sizes seem to be smaller than expected but the fruit is currently fetching higher prices than last year the Nectaprima nectarine campaign will begin followed by other varieties of peaches and Mogador apricots The quality and sizes are currently adequate quantities are reduced for the second year running One cooperative estimates a drop in volumes of around 30% for peaches and nectarines and 50% for apricots The harvested product has good quality and the sizes are mainly medium the market is not absorbing volumes as well as expected between the end of May and the beginning of June to around 1 Euro/kg for the lowest quality product and 1.5 Euro/kg on average considering even the best apricots An auctioneer says that prices will probably rise again in the coming days Another fruit grower from Emilia Romagna says that at the Bologna market prices for early apricots have been between 1.20 and 2 Euro/kg depending on the quality and variety The peach and nectarine campaigns are about ten days late Turkey: Lower volumes from Greece cause increased demand from EuropeThe seasons for flat peaches peaches and apricots started around five weeks ago with greenhouse products with the open field season having started about two to three weeks ago Turkey is at the end of the early variety season but will be passing into mid varieties probably next week Currently the price for nectarines is hovering around 1.25 - 1.35 EUR/kg FOB For flat peaches prices are around 1,28-1,38 EUR/kg FOB while apricots have prices around 1,15 - 1,58 EUR/kg FOB depending on the variety the renowned Sugar apricot starts next week which signals that we are in the mid-season These Sugar apricots have a high brix of 20+ and good colouring as well Demand for stone fruits is on a normal level the fact that Greece is lacking the volumes to export has increased demand from the European region somewhat Turkish volumes of the stone fruits are on par with the usual level South Africa: Higher prices expected due to lower Spanish supplyLocal stone fruit orchards are in their winter rest period with stone fruit is currently imported from Spain local demand is strong and prices are expected to be higher than usual because of a lower Spanish crop A retailer notes: “Our import season of nectarines is about to start We only import from Spain due to phytosanitary Demand is good and increases every year due to the work we do with our Spanish suppliers to improve quality and packaging systems.” The average price for peaches is R12.51 (0.74 euros) at the moment on the local market The past stone fruit season was a complicated one: quality but on the demand side in Europe and elsewhere demand was “pathetic” The closure of wholesale markets and an oversupply affected the market Back in February two vessels arrived simultaneously due to delays and in the UK the plum market crashed China: Purchase prices drop below cost price in new nectarine seasonThis seasons’ nectarines have now reached the market but have found it in poor condition price-wise Some fruit farmers said that the purchase price of nectarines fell to 0.3-0.4 RMB/500gram which is not enough to hire workers to pick them Because nectarine normally arrives on the market earlier than other stone fruits and the price in previous years has also tended to be favourable and the output has soared in recent seasons a few early varieties entered the market with good prices there are many varieties of fruit available North America: Supplies of stone fruit in North America good and increasingly growingOn the West Coast the production of California peaches and nectarines is increasing “It’s probably a combination of varying temperatures and the heavier load being left on the trees in some cases I don’t think they have the ability to thin the trees the way they wanted to.” That said the fruit is eating well given the high temperatures in the growing season brought out good sugars They also add that supplies of early season varieties are slimmer “The yields on these early June varieties are not great Growers are pulling them and not replacing them.” While there used to be a school of thought that earlier varieties would mean getting to the market earlier and do well economically that’s not proving as viable.  notes that peaches from South Carolina and Georgia are seeing a good crop “It’s a pretty big crop for a change compared to the last couple of years It’s been a good growing season and we escaped any frost damage The last two years that has been an issue.” New Jersey will also start with peaches in the second or third week of July nectarine volumes are building and will soon move out of the early varieties such as Zee Fire and into proprietary varieties such as Honey Blaze so the fruit will come on in larger sizes and eliminate some of the smaller fruit There is a lack of big fruit sizes this season and there is too much small fruit in many areas last year stone fruit growers participated in U.S a grower mentions the color is good but sizing has been smaller sizing should be excellent for the remainder of the year.” They also note that demand is good for peaches this year “Last year there was only about 40-50 percent of a crop This year there’s 90 percent of a crop so supply is more even with demand.” This is leaving pricing high on big fruit which is slowing retail demand But overall prices are average to better-than-average Nectarines not as much,” the growers from South Carolina says “But the yellow peaches and white peaches on small sizes--70s 80s even 60s now--there’s pressure on the market.”  Australia: COVID-19 causes labour shortage in stone fruit harvestThe Australian stone fruit season runs from October to May There were some challenges for the Australian industry this season mainly caused by the worker shortage problem that was brought about by COVID-19 border closures The Australian government has closed the border to non-residents and many farms across Australia rely on seasonal workers and backpackers the price of fruit has slightly increased due to the shorter supply and additional costs from farmers and in some cases not all the crop was able to be harvested small volumes of stone fruit had to be removed from major supermarkets in South Australia after fruit fly larvae was found in the produce despite the disruptions and uncertainty created by the pandemic