January 29 2007, 09:31

Only 15-20% of Polish apples meet the EU quality standards

The site Ebronisze.pl informed with the reference to Prof. Makosz opinion what not more than 300-400,000 tons (or 15-20%) of apples correspond to the EU quality standards out of 2 mln. tons of apples annually harvested by Polish farmers.

Despite of the small percentage of top-quality produce in the harvest, new apple orchards are established quite actively in Poland. The Professor said that most part of orchards is established by people who are not professional orchardists. In this regard, to the opinion of Prof. Makosz, apple production is able to double in Poland. The possible 4 mln. tons harvest can lead to the great sales problems especially in the conditions of the embargo imposed on the fresh produce export from Poland to Russian market.

To the opinion of Andriy Yarmak, the Deputy Director of the Agricultural Marketing Project, Ukrainian entrepreneurs are also actively investing money to new, mostly apple and peach orchards. To the expert's opinion, Ukraine can face the problem to sell high-quality dessert apple on the inner market in 4-5 years; the country will have to enter external markets. Russia is likely to become the main buyer of Ukrainian apples; however, this country will build up apple production as well.

Russia and Ukraine remain the main markets for Polish apples; so, the increase of apple production in Poland can result in the dramatically decreased profitability of this business as Poland does not have any solid advantages to compete with Ukraine.