The usual harvest of apples in Slovenia ranges from 50 to 70 thousand tonnes. Half of it is consumed at home and the other half goes into export. Already last year the frost decimated the produce to about 10,000 tonnes, whereas this year's harvest will only yield about 6,000 tonnes of apples.

"We basically haven't managed to grow anything expect for a few tonnes of fruit for industrial processing. Last year our farm took a big hit, and the other fruit-specialised farms too, I think," explains Alojz Mlakar, a fruit grower from Zgornja Ložica.

Based on the estimates of losses after this year's frost, which are still being processed, Slovenian fruit growing farms will be able to apply for an interest-free loan worth up to 3,000 euros per hectare.

The surest way the protect fruit trees against frost are sprinkler systems, but their installation has several limitations. And since fruit growers can't afford to wait, the first or, rather, the quickest solution is insurance.

The government has encouraged the latter, also through co-financing insurance premiums. In May this year, fruit farms affected by last year's frost received one-time money aid. For next spring, the government promises to help build irrigation and dew sprinkler systems with European funds.