Poland: 'Owoc Sandomierski' apples from Sandomierz

Grupa Sadownicza "Owoc Sandomierski" Sp. z o.o. is a Polish company founded in 2010 and devoted to the distribution of various fruits from the Sandomierz region. It started with 10 growers with a total of 100 hectares and has now reached 112 growers and more than 900 hectares. "Owoc Sandomierski" supplies mainly apples, but also stone fruit and blackcurrant.

Fewer pesticides
According to Dorota Sulicka-Drozdowska, the company's distinctive feature is that they grow in a region with a perfect microclimate for agriculture. "In Sandomierz, the soil is very good, and a much lower number of pesticides are used than in the rest of Europe. This results in a special fruit with an authentic taste. Thanks to the EU's funding, we were able to invest in storage, sorting and packaging systems; products are stored in controlled atmosphere conditions." She sees the Netherlands and Belgium as the largest competitors. "The advantage we have is that fewer pesticides are used in our fields. Poland still has many 'older' orchards with not so many trees per hectare. Additionally, production and labour costs are also lower.

Exports to Western Europe and Africa
Dorota explains that they produce 45,000 tonnes of apples annually; "of this, 80% is exported. Our major customers are Western Europe and Africa, where the quality of our apples is greatly appreciated. In Europe, we distribute the fruit with our own trucks, but when bound for overseas they are transported in refrigerated containers". She states that they have little trade with Russia, as that market is already supplied by many other Polish producers. "In Europe, we currently export to France, Austria, Hungary and the Netherlands. We see Ukraine, Romania, Germany, Russia and Scandinavia as potential expansion markets, and there are also good opportunities in Asia."

Grupa Sadownicza "Owoc Sandomierski" Sp. z o.o. supplies many apple varieties. "The varieties we produce the most are the Jonagored, Idared, Sampion and Golden Delicious. These are usually shipped to European countries. Real red varieties such as the Red Jonaprince are popular in Africa; they absolutely love smooth red varieties without any stripes. Golden Delicious and Mutsu are also popular there. We do not sell or breed any club varieties."

Growth
The company expects to continue growing in the future, "Even in the production of processed apple products. We now supply apple juice, but we also want to introduce jam and purée and other products to our range. We have observed a growing demand for all varieties; Africa, for example, used to demand only green apples a few years ago, but they have gradually discovered our other varieties."

For more information:
Dorota Sulicka-Drozdowska
Grupa Sadownicza ("Owoc Sandomierski")
Spółka z o.o.
Bilcza 48 A
27-641 Obrazów, Poland
woj. świętokrzyskie
tel./fax: 48 15 644 50 78
www.owocsandomierski.pl
handel@owocsandomierski.pl