"I am always hesitant to say what I think will happen in the future because of the unpredictability of weather. Producers can only be sure of the situation once the apples have arrived at the end destination," shared Marcin.
Summer apple varieties like Lobo and Cortland are being harvested in the meantime, but due to the varieties being soft and difficult to transport without damage, they are all destined for quick domestic sales.
‘The closer, the better’
The exports of Gala, Champion and Idared, for Bialski Owoc are sent primarily to neighbouring Eastern European countries like Serbia, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Croatia; but also to EU countries like Sweden and the UK.
"As a lot of Polish exporters have looked to expand to China, we have chosen not to go this route, because I am not sure if this is the best way to go. China has huge expectations, including numerous orchard inspections, in order to be certified. With all of the strict requirements and long transport times, there are so many opportunities for something to go wrong once the container arrives. That is why we go by the philosophy, 'the closer, the better', because it gives us a lot more control on the level of quality we are able to deliver."
Instead, Marcin said that the company focus is on selling to retailers throughout the year. He believes that it is easier to avoid quality issues and predict problems before they happen when the transit times are shorter.
Prices based on producer decisions
"The pricing this season is going to depend entirely on the Polish growers' behaviour. If they choose to harvest and send everything to the cold stores, the price will be very different compared to if they sell their apples directly from the orchards. Of course, this is in combination with two other important factors; quality and quantity. None of us have a crystal ball, so we just have to see what timing and these different factors together will bring. Everything needs to be carefully orchestrated, I personally lean towards selling our remaining apples in November/December instead of holding them all until the spring. We will see..." concluded Marcin.
For more information:
Marcin Świątek
Bialski Owoc Sp. z o.o.
Tel: +48 533-205-500
Email: m.swiatek@bialskiowoc.com
www.bialskiowoc.com