Tonnes of unsold apples frozen until spring
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
17.12.2014 09:49
Polish fruit-growers have some 1.2 million tonnes of apples lying unsold in cold storage areas in the wake of a Russian embargo on Polish food.
Image: sxc.hu
As Miroslaw Maliszewski from the Fruit Growers Association of Poland explains, the situation results both from the Russian import ban and an exceptionally large harvest in 2014.
During this year's harvest season, up to 3.5 million tonnes of apples were picked in Poland, according to estimates.
While farmers are still hoping for price growth in the spring, Maliszewski doubts this will be the case.
“We have already reached the bottom level and prices can only grow, but I'm afraid of what will happen in the spring,'' he said.
''Fruit growers will want to empty their storage facilities, which hold more than a million tonnes of apples,” he said.
A number of measures have already been implemented to help farmers tackle the problem. The Agricultural Market Agency is joining in with a plan to promote Polish fruit abroad, with the support of EU financing.
The program, set to be carried out in 2015, will target markets in Western Europe, former Yugoslavia and Arab countries. (kw)
Source: IAR