On 28 July, the Polish Central Agency for Statistics, GUS, has placed an update on its website for the expected harvest this year. For apples, this estimate is between 2.4 and 2.8 million tonnes, which is 30 to 40 per cent lower than the record harvest of 2016. The apple harvest then amounted to 3.6 million tonnes. According to GUS, the biggest losses are for Idared.
The Polish harvest estimation commission estimated a volume of about 2.85 million tonnes of apples mid-July. This commission consists of 10 experts and advisors who base their estimate on counts from 52 companies. Some orchards, mostly located in the lower areas, amount to almost 100 per cent of the losses. Because the differences are very varied, the volume of losses is difficult to estimate, according to GUS. Hail is also affecting the sector this season.
According to GUS, the Polish pear production will be about 25 to 30 per cent lower this year, this would amount to between 57 and 61 million kilograms.
Lowest harvest since 2010
According to the Polish Crédit Agricole Bank, this year would be the lowest harvest since 2010, if accepting the GUS data. On the other hand, prices ar very high this year, according to economist Jakub Olipra from the Crédit Agrocole Bank. Prices of cherries are said to vary between €1.35 and €2.11 per kilogram. Compared to last year, prices are as much as 200 per cent higher. Prices of the first Polish summer apples such as Early Geneva are said to be twice as profitable compared to last year at wholesalers, with prices from €0.60 to 0.70 per kilogram.
Volume of soft and stone fruit
The often rainy weather did not improve the quality during the harvesting of cherries. Cherries, apricots and peaches have been affected most by the frost, according to GUS. The frost caused a reduction of 60 per cent compared to last year.
Source: NFO