EU grape crop shrinks

The EU’s 2020/21 (June/May) table grape crop is forecast to drop by 11% y-o-y, according to USDA data, mostly due to smaller harvests in main producer Italy (-20%), where severe frosts occurred during flowering at the end of March. Mid-September rains and hailstorms contributed to the decline. Production decreases are also forecast in Bulgaria (-7.1%), and Spain (-4.5%). However, increased quantities are forecast in France (+8.7%), Romania (+3.7%), Portugal (+1.2%), and Greece (+1.1%). Overall fruit quality is forecast to be excellent with higher sugar content due to hot temperatures in July, August, and early September.