Apulia, the Italian queen of cherries, is facing an unexpected weather event that risks upsetting the season. In June, the Apulian production could in fact be cut by 50% due to late frosts that hit the area, especially in the Bari province.
A hard blow for the local producers, in particular for the famous Ferrovia variety.
Despite the promising start of the cherry campaign, with excellent quality and prices 10% above average, the near future looks difficult. Nicola Giuliano, head of Giuliano Puglia Fruit, does not hide his concern: “Inspections in the late-production fields do not look promising.
The early April frost burned the pistils of the flowers, severely compromising the harvests, especially of the Ferrovia, our flagship for the second part of the season.”
The first forecasts speak of at least a 50% loss in the production expected in June, but losses could even exceed this threshold.
However, the campaign had started with positive signals. Early varieties, such as Bigarreaux, showed good size and excellent quality, pushing prices up to 10% above the seasonal average.
Giuliano explains: “As long as we stay in the first half of May, there will be no problems. From mid-May onwards we expect a slight drop in prices with the increase in consumption.”
Looking at June, the picture is more complex: lower quantities but larger sizes and probably higher prices. A scenario that could favor, commercially speaking, national competitors from Northern Italy (Emilia Romagna and Veneto) and foreign players like Turkey and Greece, ready to capture part of the European demand.
The Apulian case highlights the vulnerability of crops to climate change and the increasing weather unpredictability.
For Italy and Europe, it will become increasingly crucial to invest in varietal research and agronomic techniques capable of protecting crops from extreme events.
The challenge is open: to protect the agricultural heritage without giving up the quality that distinguishes made in Italy.
Source: corriereortofrutticolo.it
Image: SL Fruit Service
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