Si stima a circa 867mila tonnellate (+3% sul 2025) la produzione italiana di pesche e nettarine in Italia per la stagione 2026, con un’accelerazione della campagna dovuta al caldo intenso che ha caratterizzato il clima, specie nella Pianura Padana, a partire da metà giugno. Un risultato importante, soprattutto se si considera che nell’ultimo anno è stato perso un ulteriore 1% di superfici coltivate, che restano sostanzialmente stabili a quota 40800 ettari. Calano gli spazi dedicati alle pesche (-3%) e alle percoche (-5%) mentre tengono le posizioni le nettarine. Un recupero, confrontato con la passata stagione, diffuso dal Nord al Sud della penisola, cosa che garantisce un calendario di raccolta continuo e coerente. Ma in che direzione vanno le pesche e le nettarine in Italia? Infatti, mentre sui banchi di Gdo e mercati ci sono diverse varietà di frutta, a polpa gialla e a polpa bianca, lisce o ruvide, tonde o piatte, nei vivai si studia già il futuro di questa importante categoria che per l’ortofrutta italiano rappresenta uno degli asset più rinomati.
Geoplant scommette sulle nettarine a polpa gialla
Nel ravennate Geoplant Vivai detiene centinaia di licenze e attualmente è coinvolta in diversi programmi di breeding rivolti all’ottenimento sia di nuove varietà che nuovi portinnesti. Ma la tendenza del comparto sembra andare con decisione in direzione delle varietà a polpa gialla: “Circa l’80% del totale -spiega il responsabile tecnico-commerciale Gianluca Pasi- è rappresentato da nettarine a polpa gialla perché al momento è questo che ci chiede il mercato. In prospettiva sono in crescita le pesche piatte, sulle quali scontiamo però un ritardo di 25 anni durante i quali la produzione spagnola ha saturato il settore, mentre negli ultimi due anni abbiamo assistito a un lieve recupero della pesca a polpa gialla. Come vivaio collaboriamo con aziende situate nelle zone più vocate d’Italia, come Piemonte, Emilia-Romagna, Puglia e Campania, lavorando su centinaia di varietà. Una menzione particolare va al progetto MAS.PES, un programma di miglioramento varietale del pesco e dell’albicocco mirato all’ottenimento di cultivar valorizzando i caratteri di adattamento ambientale, qualità dei frutti e resistenza ad alcune malattie”. Circa l’85-90% del lavoro di Geoplant è indirizzato sul mercato interno, una scelta un po’ in controtendenza dato che la maggior parte degli operatori vivaistici fanno almeno il 50% di export.
Vivai Calderoni promuove l’innovazione varietale
Il trend che guarda alle varietà a polpa gialla è confermato anche da Francesco Calderoni, titolare dei Vivai Calderoni. Basati a Solarolo (Ravenna), i Vivai Calderoni mettono in circolazione circa 200mila piante innestate all’anno. Collaborano con alcune delle aziende più importanti come Star Fruit per la produzione di pesche, susine, albicocche, pere e mele, con aziende sudafricane e francesi e sono dietro a progetti di brand come le susine Metis e a varietà club di mele come Pink Lady e Joya. “La tendenza -afferma Calderoni- oggi è senza dubbio rivolta a nettarine a polpa gialla, subacide, che garantiscano una disponibilità da metà giugno a metà settembre. Parimenti negli ultimi anni abbiamo assistito a un ritorno delle pesche a polpa gialla, specie di varietà Corindon e Pajalade, mentre l’interesse per le piatte è buono al Sud ma ancora limitato al Centro-Nord. Complessivamente lavoriamo su circa 60 varietà di pesche e nettarine, tra le quali segnaliamo una decina di nuove varietà a polpa rossa, una bella novità in un settore nel quale non è facile portare qualcosa di nuovo. Non è detto che queste pesche a polpa rossa eroderanno le quote di mercato di quelle a polpa gialla e bianca, più probabile che, date le loro caratteristiche peculiari di gusto, vadano a crearsi una propria nicchia di mercato separata e indipendente”. Ma Vivai Calderoni è attiva anche nel campo del miglioramento genetico per favorire il contrasto a tutti quei problemi che attanagliano la frutticoltura: “Nei prossimi anni -conclude Calderoni- vedremo i risultati di un programma di miglioramento a cui prendiamo parte e avente per capofila la francese Ac Fruit. L’obiettivo di questo programma è lavorare sulla maggiore resistenza a malattie e parassiti e oggi siamo vicini ad avere le basi genetiche per fare cose che dieci anni fa erano considerate pura fantascienza”.
What does the future hold for Italian peaches and nectarines?
The intense heat is accelerating ripening, benefiting prices and volumes
The extreme heat that, except for brief respite, has gripped Italy since mid-June is severely impacting the stone fruit season. After a slow start in May, almost all stone fruit types are now recording significant production volumes, characterized by small to medium sizes, high Brix levels, low prices, and, most importantly, an earlier-than-usual season for plums. In Italy (CSO Italy data), there are approximately 11,200 hectares of plum cultivation, essentially stable compared to last year, but with a slight decrease compared to the 12,000 hectares of land recorded some time ago. For the 2026 season, production is estimated at around 175,000 tons (+2% compared to 2025), with an increase in Emilia-Romagna and Veneto, particularly considering Sino-Japanese varieties, while Campania is remaining stable or, for early varieties, is declining, and Piedmont is experiencing a sharp decline due to early spring frosts. This situation anticipates an abundant and commercially satisfactory year, especially considering the decline in production in Spain, where, due to insufficient fruit set, Extremadura lost 30% of its produce, and in Murcia production is dropping year by year due to the failure to replant old orchards.
Granfrutta Zani is focusing on the four varieties with Metis brand
The trend among major producers is to focus on a certain number of varieties that are harvested at different times of the season, thus extending the production calendar. These varieties are then grouped under a single brand that, thanks to its characteristics and selection, is synonymous with quality. Granfrutta Zani, for example, is a Faenza-based company that has been focusing on Metis brand for ten years now. Antonio Zani, Sales Manager for Italy, explained: ‘Metis is a sort of bouquet containing four plum varieties, each specific to a specific time of the season, but all characterized by excellent flavor. It begins with Oxi variety, with dark skin and red flesh, followed by Sunny Day, yellow inside and out, the tiger-striped Safari, with variegated skin and red flesh, and Sunset Sky, with red skin and light-colored pulp. Starting this year, Metis plums will be offered in new packaging, and the ones under the Viulet brand will continue to be available; Granfrutta Zani holds exclusive rights for Europe for them, a two-tone variety and two darker ones, all very sweet and aromatic’. Production estimates are optimistic: this year pollination has been good in Romagna, creating the conditions for excellent quality, even though the intense heat should lead to an early start to the season.
Apofruit is looking with interest at foreign markets
For Apofruit, too, the Italian plum season started about 6-7 days earlier than last year, which was already characterized by a certain precocity. Marcello Guidi, Export Market Manager, explained: ‘The start has been positive overall, supported by more dynamic demand compared to the previous season. The European production environment also contributes to this trend. In particular, the main Spanish regions are experiencing reduced product availability, and this is shifting part of the demand toward Italian supply. Demand appears strong both on the domestic market and on foreign ones, with encouraging signs from Countries like the United Kingdom and Germany, where orders are more dynamic than in recent years. Regarding volumes, Apofruit expects overall production to be stable compared to last year, with an estimated slight decrease by about -5%. The company has a traditional varietal calendar, starting in the early part of the season with varieties from the Suplum group, characterized by good Brix levels, followed by the red varieties Crimson Glo and Fortune, and finally arriving at the late stage with Angeleno’. Despite improved output and stock management compared to last year, the market is not providing adequate remuneration to satisfy producers, who have seen their production costs rise and productivity decrease over the years due to growing climate and phytosanitary issues.
Vignola Plums: regular season and a strategy focused on high quality
The Vignola plum season began in a calm climate, with regular consumption and stable production prospects. Valter Monari, Director of the Consortium of PGI Vignola Cherry and the Consortium of Cherry and Typical Fruit from Vignola, an organization that promotes and enhances also plums marketed under Vignola brand, took stock of the situation. Production for the current season is estimated at between 70,000 and 80,000 quintals. We are talking about small volumes, destined for a niche market that seeks a product of high and consistent quality. One of the distinctive elements of production is the harvesting method. The plums are placed directly into packaging intended for marketing, minimizing subsequent handling. This method also preserves the bloom, the natural film that covers the fruit and represents an indicator of freshness and integrity. Monari emphasized: ‘Consumers know that for years they have found a product of high and consistent quality in Vignola-branded packaging’. Their offering includes both European and Chinese-Japanese varieties. The campaign generally begins between June 15th and 20th, and harvesting continues until September 20th. However, commercial availability can extend until the Christmas period thanks to Angeleno plums, a late-ripening variety particularly suited to cold storage. On the market front, the start of the season was characterized by affordable average prices, in a context of ongoing consumption and steady demand. The absence of overproduction allows Vignola plums to maintain a unique positioning, primarily based on quality. According to Monari, local production cannot compete solely on price with Countries where labor costs are significantly lower. The path forward is therefore to target the high-end market, focusing on such distinctive elements as quality, traceability, origin, and brand guarantees. The Director stated: ‘We must compete on the market with a high-end product, distinguishing ourselves through quality and traceability’. No significant increases in production are expected in the future. The potential for expansion is limited primarily by the lack of research concerning new varieties and the difficulty of generational turnover within the production base, currently characterized by a high average age. The goal is therefore to consolidate the current market niche, without aiming for a significant increase in volumes, but continuing to promote a product recognizable for its quality, careful harvesting, and reliability.
