The peach season is about to begin in Naoussa, the main growing area in Greece for this crop. However, market executives declare that they are unable to assess how the season will turn out. "We are facing a very confusing situation and, honestly, we don't know what to expect. Overall, production will be down by 30–40%, but there are some varieties that have lost 80–100% of their potential. There are also differences depending on the altitude zones. The only thing I can say with certainty is that there will be weeks with no peaches at all," says Mrs. Soula Serdari, sales director of ACN Naoussa.
She also adds: "Discussions about peach supply programs with supermarkets in the UK, Poland, Germany, and the Balkans for ACN Naoussa will start on June 15. I have no idea where prices will land. I can't make any kind of estimate, not even for the beginning of the season. As far as we are concerned, at the Naoussa Cooperative, we will have 50% less product until early July. But what other alternatives might our buyers have from Turkey, Spain, or other supplying countries? I don't know. Therefore, I can't predict anything about what lies ahead."
Mrs. Serdari notes a return of consumers to peaches, but this has not yet been reflected in a corresponding increase in crop volume: "The return to peaches—and in particular the classic, flavorful, yellow-red peach—so far concerns the consumers. For us, this is a good thing, because we have exactly this tasty peach that is in demand. However, after the major blow that growers took with the Russian embargo, the two or three recent years with good commercial results don't seem to be enough to fully convince them that it's worth planting more. Still, we are encouraging them to move in that direction."
Finally, ACN Naoussa is also active in cherry production. "The very high prices of cherries have led to reduced consumption. People just can't afford those prices. Of course, the producer can't sell off their product for nothing either, especially when they've been left nearly empty-handed due to the damage. In our case, from a potential 1,300 tons of cherries, this year we're down to 200–300. But those high prices can't compare to the revenue that 1,300 tons would bring. We'll have cherries until the end of July, but there won't be time to export—except for small quantities to Bulgaria. All the cherries are going to the domestic market, to supermarkets and wholesale markets," Mrs. Serdari concludes.
For more information:
Soula Serdari
ACN Naoussa
Tel: +30 23320 41 187
Email: [email protected]
https://acn.com.gr/en/