Orchards in France

It is a characteristic landscape in France. In 2010 the surface of orchards in France was 134.000 ha, that is 28.000 ha less than in 2010. Walnuts constituted the second orchard in France. Except for kiwis and walnuts all the surfaces of orchards are decreasing. The number of exploitations has also reduced, thus the average size of orchards per exploitation has increased. They ware 24.000 in 2000 and 17.000 in 2010. The highest decrease in surface concerns peach trees (- 40%) and pear trees (- 45%). Apple trees are the most important orchards in term of surface. Plum trees and apricot trees resist better to the decrease in surface.

The first production basin is the South East region (Rhônes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Languedoc-Roussillon) which concentrate half of the fruits exploitations and the orchards, with 49% of the exploitations and 50% of the surfaces. In the South West the Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées regions form the second production basin with 28% of the exploitations and 30% of the surfaces. The Centre and Pays de la Loire regions represent the third basin with 4% of the exploitations and 7% of the surfaces. 19% of the exploitations and 13% of the surfaces are spread in the other regions. For example 2% of the exploitations and 3% of the surfaces are located in Corsica.