Peach and nectarine growers from Spain, Italy and France have called for urgent support from European authorities to tackle what has been described as a 'crisis' for the sector.

A release from Spain's Federation of Fruit, Vegetable, Flower and Live Plant Grower Exporter Associations (FEPEX) said growers from the three countries discussed the matter in a videoconference on Friday.

The growers agreed that current crisis management measures under the European Union's (EU) framework of operational programs were insufficient to mitigate the negative impacts of 'very low prices' for the current campaign.

As a result, the growers called on the EU's Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH) to discuss the issue on Monday and take it to the Management Committee today (Wednesday), to apply measures under article 219 in Regulation 1308/2013 which covers measures to address serious market disturbances.

The Italian delegation added the crisis was also affecting Greece, which is the fourth-largest grower of stonefruit in the EU and would join the growers in their demands.

The group will meet again on Friday with the goal of analyzing the season to date and the responses from different national and community administrations to the crisis call.

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