The new-season harvest has begun in major apple-producing regions of northern Italy. This year's high temperatures have pushed apples to ripen early, and over a longer timeframe the local apple growth and harvest cycle has been advancing for years. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall, and more frequent extreme weather are altering the production rhythm familiar to growers.
Since the start of the year, northern Italy has shown pronounced high-temperature characteristics. Data from Trento province's meteorological department show that from January to July 2026, Trento's average temperature reached 14.9°C, the highest for the period on record. July's average was 2.4°C above the historical norm, with rainfall below usual levels.
The Trentino-South Tyrol region is among Europe's important apple-producing areas, and the new-season harvest has launched. In recent years, fruit ripening and harvest times have kept advancing. For example, Gala apples are being picked four to five days earlier than usual. The Antonioi family, long-time apple growers, note that compared with two decades ago, local harvest time has advanced roughly ten days to two weeks. High heat not only advances ripening but raises trees' water demand, while spring-late and summer rainfall distribution this year was unstable.
Water shortage has led to smaller apple diameters, generally smaller fruit. Without enough water to keep growing, apples yellow faster and thus ripen earlier. Accelerated ripening directly affects quality. When water is insufficient, fruit may ripen before completing coloring. Some apples failing fresh-fruit sales standards can only go to processing channels like puree and juice, reducing growers' income.
