Although there are fewer apples in Poland due to weather conditions, the quality of the apples is strong this year, says Jan Nowakowski, manager of Polish apple distributor Genesis Fresh: "The Polish apple season is now well underway. The overall crop is slightly smaller than last year, due to spring frosts and local droughts in some regions, but fruit quality is generally very strong, with good color and firmness across the key commercial varieties. Growers are focusing on precise sorting and packing, in order to meet the high standards of both European and overseas retail customers."
Next to interest from European countries, the Middle East and Asia are now showing strong demand as the season is progressing, Nowakowski states. "Demand has been shifting gradually throughout the season. Early on, European retail programmes were the main driver, especially for Gala and Golden. Recently, interest has been growing again from outside the EU, mainly in markets in the Middle East and Asia. Meanwhile, domestic processors are noticeably less active compared to the previous two years, as processing industries across Europe still have sufficient local raw material. This reduces their import needs and places downward pressure on the industrial apple market in Poland."
© Genesis Fresh
According to Nowakowski, the African continent is also an interesting contender for the export of Polish apples: "We're seeing promising momentum in destinations such as Jordan, India and Malaysia, where the recognition of Polish apples continues to improve. There's also increasing and more consistent demand from African markets, including Egypt, Senegal and Ivory Coast. These regions support an important diversification of export directions beyond the traditional EU markets."
Central and South American markets are also popular among Polish apple exporters. "Latin America remains a young but very interesting region for Polish exporters. We've already gained a foothold in countries like Colombia and the Dominican Republic," Nowakowski says. "In addition, Polish suppliers are increasingly targeting Central American markets, with shipments to Costa Rica now taking place, and Panama in the pipeline as a planned new destination. Although logistics remain challenging due to the long transit times, the feedback on quality and taste has been encouraging."
In contrast to the previous season, prices for industrial apples are lower this season, taking some pressure off of the domestic apple prices, Nowakowski explains: "Prices for dessert apples remain fairly stable, supported by good quality and healthy export demand. However, industrial apple prices are lower than during the past two seasons. The European processing sector is still sourcing locally, which limits imports and, as a result, softens the domestic prices for processing fruit in Poland."
"We expect steady demand for premium-quality apples, particularly from non-EU destinations, and exports should intensify as the season progresses. The challenge will be maintaining high-quality storage conditions and ensuring efficient logistics for long-distance markets. Industrial apple prices may remain under pressure until later in winter when European stocks decline. Overall, the outlook is positive for growers and exporters able to supply well-sorted and well-packed apples," Nowakowski concludes.
For more information:
Jan Nowakowski
Genesis Fresh
Tel: +48 223 783 405
Email: [email protected]
