Poland: largest EU producer of soft fruits

Poland is the largest producer of soft fruit in the European Union. Around 1 million farms deal with the production of soft fruit in Poland, an activity that provides livelihood to 1,5 million Poles. The total annual acreage of strawberry plantations was estimated at around 52.000 hectares the last few years and the crop at about 200.000 MT (196.000 MT in 2006). Most of the Polish strawberry farms are very small (the average acreage is less than 0,2 ha), but there also large and very modern enterprises, like Sadpol Company from Wierzbica which grows strawberries on more than 400 hectares, including production under cover.

In the European countries, strawberries are produced mostly for the fresh market, and only fruits of lower quality are processed. In Poland the situation is different because 70-75% of strawberries is processed (compared with only 15% in Spain). During the strawberry season, Poles usually buy fruits at street stands, and strawberries sold in supermarkets are not popular yet.

The Polish export of fresh strawberries to the EU – around 5000 MT annually - is relatively low and doesn’t change. On the other hand, Poland is the main exporter of frozen strawberries, but in the last few years prices decreased with nearly one-third, due to the increased import of frozen strawberries from China and Morocco. Export is becoming unprofitable – in 2005 one ton of Chinese strawberries was offered for 500 euros, compared to 700-800 euros for Polish produce. Low prices of frozen strawberries affect Polish growers. For example in 2004, strawberry prices were so low that they covered only 30% of production costs. This situation can change next year, as the European Commission decided to impose a 34,2% anti-dumping duty on EU imports of frozen strawberries from China from October 19 for the next 6 months.

Strawberries at street stand in Poland

Source:freshplaza.com