Italy's Horticultural Service Center (CSO) has estimated nationwide kiwifruit production for the 2017-18 season will be 20% down year-on-year, after a combination of spring frosts and summer drought conditions affected orchards in northern growing areas.

The organization said that its latest update showed an even more severe situation to what was previously thought, website My Fruit reported.

Widespread frosts in May this year, which were described as "unprecedented" by Freshfel representative Philippe Binard, wreaked havoc on fruit farms in numerous European countries. Pome fruit, stonefruit and kiwifruit were among the hardest hit.

CSO says that production is down 45% in the northeastern Veneto region, with a more modest decline of 10% in Emilia-Romagna, which lies to the south.

Reductions of 30% are expected in Piedmont, which borders southern France, and Lazio, in the center of the country.

Production in southern Italy is expected to be close to standard levels after a drop last season, the group said.

CSO also noted that green kiwifruit production was expected to fall 40% year-on-year, reaching the lowest levels in four seasons. 

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