Mr Makosz affirms that the most severe losses were recorded in the Grójec-Wiecka area, Biała Rawska, in the Lublin region and in eastern Poland, and smaller ones in Kujawy, Wielkopolska, Małopolskie and Lower and Upper Silesia. Most of the damage was caused by frost damage, fungal and bacterial diseases and unfavourable weather conditions during the flowering of the trees. Another reason, as the professor points out, is the abandonment of a significant area of cherry orchards in 2016 due to the low prices paid for the fruit.
In any case, similar issues will be affecting other countries, as this year's harvest will equal about 90% of last year's production in Russia (Krasnodar), while that of Serbia, Hungary and Belgium will amount to 80% of last year's volume, that of Turkey will amount to between 70 and 75% of the last year's harvest, that of Germany and Denmark will reach approximately 50%, that of Macedonia will amount to 30-35% and that of Belarus and Ukraine will reach just 10-15% of last year's production.
According to the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Food Economy, Poland's cherry production in 2016 amounted to 195 thousand tonnes, compared to about 180 thousand tonnes a year before. Last year, the prices of cherries were low, with the processing industry paying 1 złoty (about 0.23 Euro) per kilo for juicing and 1.45 złoty (about 0.34 Euro) per kilo for freezing, which rendered the cherry production unprofitable.
Source: fakt.pl
