This year, Serbia expects an apple harvest of between 530 and 540 thousand tons. Generally, there will be many more apples on the global market this year.
Agriculture Fair in Novi Sad starts September 18
The 88th International Agriculture Fair in Novi Sad starts this weekend and will host exhibitors from 17 countries. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the oldest agriculture exhibition in the Western Balkans had been previously postponed for a year. This year the much anticipated fair will take place with the necessary precautions to keep exhibitors and visitors safe and healthy.
The expo involves agro mechanization exhibits, cattle shows, hosts numerous seminars and business to business meetings. The Orange Pavilion will represent Dutch agriculture in Hall One, hosting a dozen Dutch companies from different agricultural sectors.
Good apple harvest expected, sales challenging
Fruit growers should start harvesting apples in the coming weeks. This season, the harvest will start slightly later due to the cold spring.
Droughts and high summer temperatures did not harm the apple crops since fruit growers apply new technologies with irrigation systems in place. According to Professor Zoran Keserović, Serbia will have between 530 thousand and 540 thousand metric tons of apples this season.
"It is expected that the amount of apples on the global market will be higher this year. In the European Union, the yield will be 10% higher than last year – expecting around 11.1 million tons of produce. Poland alone will produce 4.15 million tons of apples,” the Professor said.
“There will be 1.4 million tons of apples in Russia,” Professor Keserović added. “That is 200 thousand kilograms more than last season, while in China the harvest yield is projected to be 43 million tons. There will be an increase in yields for many varieties: Gala, Idared, Jonagold, Red delicacy."
The professor advises Serbian fruit growers to sell if they manage to get a price of 30 eurocents per kilogram for bulk sales. “If the price is above 30-35 eurocents, everything should be sold immediately." Prof. Keserović also said that apples of the Gala variety, whose harvest is in progress, has an excellent wholesale price 50-55 eurocents.
In Serbia, there are a lot of unsold apples from last season since the farmers were hesitant to sell, expecting the price to increase. Since that did not happen many fruit growers did not do well financially. This year a record yield of apples is expected worldwide meaning that it might be difficult for those farmers to improve their financial situation.
Source: Agroberichtenbuitenland