Apricot Harvest Has Begun in Basilicata and Foggia

First Yields Are Promising – Stable Quality Expected Despite Extreme Weather

“It’s impressive every year to see the dedication and care our local partners put into their work. Despite frost and hail, you can feel their passion for the product in every single tree. The first apricots are of outstanding quality – a great reason to look forward to the season ahead,” says Nicola Melillo, Quality Manager at KÖLLA Italia.

With the arrival of early summer, harvest time begins in Southern Italy for one of Europe’s most popular stone fruits: the apricot. The region of Basilicata – especially the growing areas around Pisticci and Metapont (Province of Matera) – is among the most important production zones in Italy. In the neighboring region of Apulia, specifically in the province of Foggia, harvesting has also started.

As part of this year’s seasonal preparations, Nicola visited several partner farms in early May to gain a comprehensive picture of the orchards’ condition and the expected harvest quality.

 

 

Promising Varieties with Strong Potential

The Colorado, Mambo, and Mogador varieties are showing strong vitality and resilience, with healthy plants, uniform fruit distribution, and consistent sizing – ideal conditions for harvesting, packing, and marketing. Minor hail damage (approx. 15%) and slight cracking (around 2%) remain within acceptable limits and have little impact on marketability.

The outlook for the Mikado variety is more nuanced: here, the effects of the weather are more noticeable. Hail and cracking damage combined account for around 25%, and fruit distribution is less uniform. Nevertheless, the remaining healthy fruits are of good quality and well suited for the fresh market.

Foggia: Similar Conditions, Impressive Quality

In the province of Foggia (Apulia region), conditions are similar to those in Basilicata: the harvest of Mikado and Mogador varieties is already underway. Despite a weather-related drop in yield of around 25% – caused by late frost and isolated hailstorms – the quality of the available fruit is exceptionally high. The apricots stand out for their uniform coloration and large size, making them particularly attractive for retail and wholesale markets. The first batches have already been shipped to food retailers and wholesale markets in Germany.

From May 20 onwards, a noticeable increase in available volumes is expected.

 

Solid Start to the 2025 Season

Despite isolated weather challenges, the apricot harvest is off to a steady start overall. The fruit quality meets the standards for market-ready apricots that are visually appealing and fully ripe in flavor. The first shipments begin in mid-May, with volumes gradually increasing throughout the rest of the month.

Dedicated Partners, Strong Origins

Particularly noteworthy is the attentive care given to the orchards by local producers, who work with great experience and a strong commitment to quality. Their dedication is key to ensuring that, once again this year, we can offer our customers freshly harvested apricots from two of Southern Italy’s finest growing regions.

 

May 2025