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Belgian apple farmers calling 2017 a 'disaster year'

21:21 10/08/2017

For apple farmers across Belgium, 2017 is turning out to be a 'disaster year', with estimates showing that two thirds less apples will be harvested compared to last year, which was also a bad year. The culprit is most likely the late spring frost.

The figures were presented today by the Belgian Farmers Union during an international fruit conference in Lleida, Spain. The sector expects to harvest 68% less apples than last year. The decline also affects the rest of Europe, although to a lesser extent. At the European level, the sector expects to harvest 21% less apples.

"The results show that Belgium faces a very low yield, due to the frost damage in April and the less favourable weather conditions in the spring," says the Farmers Union.

Written by Robyn Boyle