Hail and Thunderstorms Damaged Early Greek Stone Fruit Varieties for the 2023 Season

Hail storms in West Greece, thunderstorms in North Greece, and high humidity concentrations in May damaged all early stone fruit varieties. Cherries were torn just a few days before picking, apricots thrown down from the trees, and peaches and nectarines mechanically damaged, devaluating the 2023 season's yield. The damage is around 40%, especially for early cherries and apricots, while peaches and nectarines are expected to be about 20% but are still being evaluated. The Greek stone fruit season is generally projected to have gotten off to a dismal start, with a significant loss expected in revenue for the entire industry.