March 3 2006, 14:09

Dessert apple prices have been decreasing for the second week in Poland

The analysts of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal of the national produce business inform that apples started to go cheaper in Poland in the middle of past week. Apple prices have increased for a short period of time due the peak demand on this product observed from the side of Eastern European countries. Many market players considered the price decrease to be temporary, but this trend is still observed. This week the price on the most popular apple varieties decreased $ 0.02-0.03/kg in average.

Price decrease is determined by too large stock of marketable apple in the storages of Polish producers and wholesalers; and, apple and other food stock supplies to Russia are still banned. Russia used to be the greatest buyer of Polish apples, as Polish producers find it quite difficult to export apples to the EU countries. Inconveniences of Polish apple export to the EU countries are caused both by rigid requirements to quality and volumes of supplied commodities (in most cases Polish apple producers are not able to meet these requirements), and by the significant delays of payments for the supplied produce. The other factor stimulating apple price decrease in Poland is the greater supply after the ended frosts and the preparations to the new season started by the farmers.

So, quality dessert apples cost in average $ 0.33-0.39/kg in Poland. At the same time, apple prices on Ukrainian market remain relatively stable showing an insignificant downtrend.