The apple season in Poland is in full swing, but will have less volumes compared to last year. According to one exporter, his quantity will drop by 20 to 25 per cent compared to the 5-year average. Demand is picking up though, as new markets apply themselves for the Polish apples.
Due to the weather conditions and the bumper crop of last year, it is no surprise that the Polish apple growers will produce less apples than they did in the previous season. According to Jan Nowakowski, CEO of Genesis Fresh, the volumes depend on the variety. “This year we’ll have about 20 to 25 percent less volume if you compare it to the 5 year average. We’ve lost volumes in some varieties due to the frost in the spring. Varieties that suffered from it are the Idareds, Jonagold and Ligol apples. Other varieties, like the Gala, Golden and Champion should have normal volumes this season. Whats more is the quality of the apples is really good this year. We expect to be able to export similar volumes as we did last year.”
Although Genesis Fresh has a steady amount of clients they can supply this season, new markets are also popping up for Nowakowski. “We’ve already gotten inquiries from potential new clients, who’ve been asking for prices and programs. These potential clients are mostly from African and Asian countries. Every year we see growth in these markets, which isn’t surprising considering the Russian embargo still remains.”
Nowakowski emphasizes the company has a new focus when it comes to the packaging of the apples. “We’ve been focusing on eco-friendly packaging for our apples, and have tried to improve it every year. This year, we’ll work with new cardboard packaging for our apples, reducing the use of plastic. I feel this will be a global focus in the future of fruit packaging, which we as a business support completely.” He concludes.
