After the low prices European apple shippers saw last season, this season has started off with good prices in addition to good volumes. Slovenian grower-shippers have seen their volumes increase over the years, especially quantities of top-quality fruit for export.
“We have a very good year, especially compared to last year,” said Bostjian Kozole of Evrosad in Slovenia. “We had a lot of rain last September and October, but, because we didn't get hit with a lot of rain this season, coloring of fruit and internal sugars have been very good.” There were water shortages in the northeastern part of the country that affected some fruit sizing, but most of Evrosad's acreage wasn't affected.
“Volumes have been increasing over the last few years because farms become more specialized and displace the hobby growers,” said Kozole. “There's a focus on new packaging and getting supplies to markets quicker. We believe that specialization will benefit Slovenian growers, and we believe that's the future for Slovenia.” About half of Evrosad's annual apple crop of 20,000 tons was exported last season, but with better quality fruit this year, about 65 percent of the crop will find its way to foreign markets this season. With more fruit on the European market because of the Russian ban on European goods, growers throughout the continent have taken measures to ensure prices don't get too low.
“It was good that the European Union published measures to deal with the Russian ban,” said Evrosad. “There was a lot of fruit that went to charity or to schools, and that took some pressure off of growers, especially in Poland, from dropping their prices as low as they were last season. It's a shame when politics stop the way the market works normally, but the situation has improved much from last year.”
Slovenia used to send much of its fruit to Croatia, but it shifted its focus once it entered the European Union. Now, Kozole said shippers send much of their fruit to the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Scandinavia and North Africa. The timing of their season and the quality of the fruit found in Slovenia has given it some advantages in those markets.
“We're the first country in the Northern Hemisphere that has Royal Galas and Braeburns, which are both very popular in the U.K.,” said Kozole. “In the Middle East and Egypt, they want particular sizes, and we can offer the sizes they're looking for.”
