European Stone Fruit Market Update – Week 24/2025
As the 2025 stone fruit season unfolds across Europe, the market is navigating a landscape shaped by significant weather disruptions and shifting supply dynamics. This update provides a comprehensive overview of production trends, farmgate and wholesale price developments, and evolving market conditions for apricots, peaches, nectarines, and cherries. With severe spring frosts in Greece, hailstorms in Spain, and variable weather impacts elsewhere, growers and traders are contending with lower yields and heightened price volatility.
Production Overview
As mentioned in our most recent weekly report, European stone fruit production is forecasted to be lower this season, mainly as a result of heavy spring frosts in Greece and challenging weather in Spain, such as hailstorms and unusually cold temperatures during flowering.
In Greece, cherry output has dropped sharply, down to just 10% of normal levels in some cases, due to unfavorable weather during the critical fruit-setting phase, particularly in Pella, the country’s central cherry-growing region. Peach harvests have also been impacted by viral infections and mite infestations, which have caused fruit deformities and reduced yields, especially among early varieties. The early harvest is set to wrap up by the end of the week, after which attention will shift to mid-season varieties, which appear to have experienced less damage so far.
In Spain, production is projected to drop by 5% compared to 2024, primarily due to hailstorms affecting regions like Catalonia and Aragon. In contrast, Italy's production remains steady, with minor declines in the central and northern areas offset by growth in the south. France's production is stable compared to 2024, although it falls short of its optimal potential. Meanwhile, frosts in April and early May devastated Hungarian cherry crops, causing losses of up to 90%. This has resulted in soaring prices and a rise in imports.
According to USDA Foreign Agricultural Service official reports, Italy's stone fruit production was expected to remain largely stable compared to 2024, with volumes projected at 921,346 tonnes. However, this stability masks regional variations, with slight production declines anticipated in central and northern regions, offset by increases in southern Italy. European Union official production data reveals that Italy has historically maintained substantial stone fruit cultivation, with peach and nectarine orchards occupying approximately 90,000 hectares of Italian agricultural land.
French Stone Fruit Market Developments
Production Forecasts and Regional Distribution
France's stone fruit sector presents a stable outlook for 2025, with official government statistics from Agreste indicating consistent production levels. According to official French Ministry of Agriculture forecasts, national production of peaches and nectarines is expected to reach 236,200 tonnes in 2025, equivalent to 2024 production levels and 7% above the five-year average. This stability reflects France's commitment to maintaining productive capacity despite various challenges.
The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region is experiencing particularly positive developments according to Agreste data, with production expected to increase by 8% compared to 2024 and 19% above the five-year average. This growth is attributed to significant orchard renewal programs, where young plantations are now entering productive phases and delivering improved yields. The region's focus on modernization has positioned it as a leader in French stone fruit production.
According to official statistics, the Occitania region presents a more complex picture. Despite abundant flowering during challenging weather conditions, production is expected to increase by 3% compared to 2024. However, a decline in cultivated area, particularly in Roussillon, where surface area has decreased by 8%, means total production is projected to drop by 4% from the previous year.
Cherry Production and Market Performance
French cherry production represents a success story for 2025 according to Agreste forecasts, with production anticipated to reach 33,400 tonnes, nearly matching the previous year's level and 9% higher than the five-year average. Official French agricultural statistics indicate that cherry production was estimated at 37,700 tonnes, reflecting a 12% increase from 2023 and a 23% rise over the five-year average.
According to official French production data, 36% of French cherries come from Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, 28% from Auvergne/Rhône-Alpes, and 17% from Occitania. Despite some reductions in cultivation areas, these regions are projected to increase production by 10% and 21%, respectively, weather permitting. Of the total production, 29,100 tonnes are destined for the fresh market, with 8,600 tonnes allocated for industrial processing.
Farmgate price dynamics
In June 2025, European stone fruit prices have experienced significant fluctuations, largely due to weather-related production issues and market timing.
The season began with elevated farmgate prices, driven by delayed harvests and initial supply shortages, particularly in Greece and parts of Spain. Frosts and adverse weather conditions reduced early-season yields. In Greece, for example, cherry prices reached €5.00 to €5.50 per kilogram in May. However, prices have since dropped by €4.00 to €5.00 per kilogram.
In Italy, peach farmgate prices stabilized around €1.10 per kilogram, while French markets saw Spanish imports priced between €3.00 and €4.00 per kilogram at wholesale. This pricing typically includes farmgate, transport, and handling costs. Early June saw limited domestic French stone fruit availability, leading to a greater reliance on imports.
As we move into mid-to-late June, trends suggest that as harvests progress and supply from new regions enters the market, farmgate prices for nectarines and peaches are likely to undergo a significant correction.
Overall, the high farmgate prices in early June, resulting from low initial supply and weather disruptions, are expected to adjust downward as new harvests increase market availability. This pattern reflects a typical seasonal shift, where early scarcity gives way to more stable or declining prices as the main harvests come in. However, the price volatility in 2025 has been intensified by substantial weather impacts across key production areas.
Wholesale price developments
The stone fruit supply in primary European wholesale markets is increasing as the season progresses, with prices presenting a gradual decrease. The wholesale market of Rungis has experienced significant price corrections across all major categories in the past week. Apricots from Spain, sized 40–45mm, saw their prices drop from around €2.60/kg to €2.12/kg, a decrease of 18.5% week-over-week. Larger Spanish apricots (45–50mm) fell even more sharply, moving from approximately €3.12/kg to €2.46/kg, marking a 21.3% WoW decline. French apricots followed a similar trend while premium French orangé rouge apricots (55–60mm) remained stable at €5.00/kg, with no WoW change reported.
Cherry prices showed mixed but generally downward trends. French Rainier cherries (+28mm) edged down by 2.0% to €9.80/kg, while Spanish red cherries (+30mm) experienced a substantial 16.6% decline to €9.80/kg. French red cherries (+30mm) also saw a notable decrease of 13.2% to €10.20/kg. Nectarines and peaches mirrored each other in their price movements. Spanish white and yellow nectarines (A grade) both dropped by 24.1% to €3.32/kg, while lower quality (B grade) nectarines fell by 15.1% to €2.87/kg. Spanish white and yellow peaches (A grade) also declined by 24.1% to €3.32/kg, with B grade peaches down 15.1% to €2.87/kg.
During the previous week in Madrid’s wholesale market, domestic stone fruit prices reflected a notable range, with yellow peaches reaching the highest average at €3.65/kg and red peaches settling at €2.24/kg. Nectarines and apricots were priced competitively at €2.64/kg and €2.90/kg, respectively, while cherries averaged €4.58/kg, highlighting their continued premium status. Plums, including Angeleno and purple varieties, closed the spectrum at €3.00/kg and €2.61/kg, demonstrating robust market activity across all major stone fruit categories.
The latest data for the Greek stone fruit market in the wholesale central market of Athens shows a mix of stability, volatility, and year-over-year price increases. Early apricot prices remain unchanged at €2.00 per kilogram this week, with no week-over-week difference, but this is 25% higher than last year’s price of €1.60/kg. The apricot market is gaining more competition with the introduction of famous domestic varieties this week.
Cherry prices have risen sharply to €5.00/kg, up 10% from last week’s €4.50/kg and a substantial 66.7% higher than last year’s €3.00/kg, highlighting strong demand and limited supply. Peach prices, on the other hand, have dropped to €1.80/kg this week, down 11.1% from last week’s €2.00/kg, but still well above last year’s price of €1.20/kg, marking a year-over-year increase of 50%. Nectarine prices are currently at €1.80/kg.
Market Trends
The market saw a significant price correction beginning in mid-May. During week 20, nectarine prices plummeted by 35.6%, while cherry prices fell by 34.5%. This decline is attributed to increased supply from new harvest regions and weaker demand.
In terms of quality and size, early-season varieties tend to be smaller. Larger A and AA-sized fruits are anticipated later in the season, resulting in considerable price variations based on region and quality. Organic stone fruits, particularly cherries, command high price premiums, reaching up to 92% more than conventional varieties in France.
Despite rising production in some areas, consumption remains under pressure due to high inflation and cooler early summer temperatures in northern and central Europe. However, in Southern Europe, summer temperatures have already started boosting demand.
Conclusion
The European stone fruit market in Week 24 of 2025 reflects a season of both challenge and adjustment. Weather-related production setbacks have led to reduced yields and elevated prices in some regions, while increasing supply from new harvest areas is beginning to drive prices downward as the season advances. Wholesale markets are witnessing notable price corrections, with most stone fruit categories experiencing double-digit declines week-over-week. As mid-season varieties come to market and competition intensifies, buyers and sellers can expect ongoing volatility but also greater availability and potentially more stable pricing. The trajectory for the remainder of the season will depend on weather patterns, demand trends, and the ability of growers to adapt to the current environment
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Sources:
Network of News of Markets - France
https://www.mercamadrid.es/estadisticas/
https://agridata.ec.europa.eu/
https://www.okaa.gr/gr/nea-kai-anakoinoseis/statistika-deltia-timon/
