Since its original publication, this article has been updated to include additional comments from the apple industry.

Recent frosts in a major Italian-apple growing area are expected to shave off a portion of the total volumes this season, though there is some disagreement as to the severity of the situation. 

Temperatures dipped below freezing over two nights last week in the northern regions of South Tyrol and Trentino. 

Speaking with Fresh Fruit Portal, a representative of Subtiroler Obstversteigerung (Asta Frutta) said the industry would need to wait a while longer to fully evaluate the damage. 

"It’s not so easy to say now how much has been damaged - we will have to wait for about two weeks," general manager Georg Theiner said.

"There is some damage in regions of South Tyrol and Trentino in the north of Italy...but whether it is 5%, 10%, or 20% I cannot say."

He added that overall it seemed the frosts were more severe than those received last year.

In terms of varieties, Theiner believed Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious and Granny Smith would be the most heavily affected.

Meanwhile, Val Venosta Cooperatives Association marketing manager Benjamin Laimer agreed it was too early to provide figures on what the total damage to apple orchards could be, but estimated it would in fact be less severe than in 2016.

"I can say the damage was quite moderate, but it depends on the area. Some areas in Val Venosta were more and some less but I think it wasn’t as bad as last year," he said.

Laimer added that it seemed the lower parts of the Val Venosta Valley had been hit harder than the higher altitude areas.

"That is quite strange because normally the higher areas of Val Venosta would be colder, but this time it was the lower parts where we had more of the frost," he said.

Loses in higher altitude areas

VOG Consortium director Gerhard Dichgans said that after a "full and early" flowering period, the coperative's producers had been prepared to face the frosts.

"Most plantations situated in flat land can be protected by antifreeze/antibrine irrigation systems, which have been lit for several nights, avoiding the worst," he said in a statement.

"In some areas located at higher altitudes but also in plantations which - due to the wind - did not allow this system to be used, we can calculate a loss of 20-30%.

"Overall, most producers were able to protect the crop. However, precise and definitive data may only be known later."

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