While volumes in the orchards are lower, both domestic and overseas sales are strong, according to Jan Nowakowski of Genesis Fresh
How has the apple season panned out for you?
Jan Nowakowski: The 2023/24 season is coming to an end. We still have a small stock of apples for our partners, smaller volumes compared to the previous season, but we will have enough until the new season. The coming season will be earlier by about 2-3 weeks.
We will have good volumes of Royal Gala this year. The demand for this variety is growing each year in Europe as well as in overseas markets like Asia and South America.
What volumes are you expecting to produce this year?
JN: We expect to have around 25,000 tones of apples this season, down 20 per cent compared to last season. Total Polish production is expected to reach 3m-3.3m tonnes, down from 4.5m tonnes last year.
In the southern part of Poland, the orchards are nearly empty, expected to reach 10 per cent of last season’s volumes. There were strong frosts in these parts of Poland. A colder and wetter flowering period impacted production of apples this year.
How strong is the market?
JN: Good demand from domestic and European markets has meant good sales of Polish apples. Exports of Gala apples to overseas markets are high each year and we expect to increase the numbers of containers shipped to Middle East and Far East markets.
Most apples are produced for the domestic market, both for fresh consumption and processing, reaching up to 60 per cent of total production. The rest of the volume goes to Europe and about 5-10 per cent to overseas markets. South America is offering new opportunities for Polish apples, especially Royal Gala.
What are your key customers demanding from your apples?
JN: We have clients in both areas, fresh consumption and industry production. The fresh market looks for varieties, texture, shelf-life and taste. Polish apples have all these characteristics. We give good service to our clients, and we deliver bigger volume of apples for promos in a short period of time.
What are the main challenges you see the business facing in the future?
JN: We will have less fruit in coming seasons, it will be challenging to supply new markets. The remainder of this season is also very short with apples. We are counting every single apple to fulfil the coming orders.
European apple volumes will be reduced for several reasons. There were many frost events, even in Italy, and production will be smaller as well. Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands will also have smaller crops in the coming season.
The prices for apples show that it will be a more expensive season for consumers. We have higher production, service and maintenance costs in the orchards, at packing stations and for labour.
This interview was taken from Fresh Focus Apple & Pear, which is available now
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