Europe’s Harvests From Grapes to Apples Hit by Chaotic Weather
- Late frosts and intense rains have weighed on season’s output
- Parts of southern Europe are suffering from persistent drought
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Cornelius Dönnhoff’s vineyard in Germany’s Nahe region — renowned among riesling aficionados — is normally bursting with grapes this time of year. But his vines are almost completely bare after April frosts destroyed early growth, and he’s unsure how the little fruit he has will turn out.
It’s a similar picture across some of Europe’s biggest fruit and vegetable producers. This year’s unusually wet spring and chaotic summer conditions have left farmers from Poland to the UK bracing for the impact on the flavor and size of their harvests, while the south battles yet another severe drought.