Poland: changes in structure of apple production

Poland is the largest apple producing country in Europe. In 2005, the Central Statistical Office of Poland (GUS) published results of the latest survey conducted in 2004 (last one was published in 1998 ). The results clearly show changes in varietal structure of polish orchard between years 2004 and 1998. ‘Cortland’, ‘Lobo’ and ‘Jonathan’ varieties became less important and was replaced by newer ones: ‘Jonagold’, ‘Sampion’, ‘Ligol’ and ‘Gala’.

The old variety ‘Idared’ is still has the largest acreage (19%), with ‘Jonagold’ in the second (12%), ‘Sampion’ – in the third (9%). ‘Lobo’ – in the fourth (5,5%) and ‘Cortland’ – in the fifth place. Despite the large total acreage of ‘Idared’ production, the share in young orchards decreases (see tabel). Most of the apple crop in Poland - 36,9% - comes from the orchards which are 5-9 years old (10-14 years old - 31,7%, up to 4 years old - 8,8% and over 25 years old - 7,1%).

In case of the most important varieties – ‘Jonagold’ and ‘Sampion’ – 80% of the trees is younger than 10 years. In 2004, 56,4% of apple trees were grown on semidwarf rootstock (in case of 5-9 year old trees – almost 70%). Dwarf rootstocks accounted for 17,4% of plantations and were the most popular in the youngest orchards (41% of trees up to 4 years old).

Structure of Polish apple orchards according to varieties and age of the trees in 2004

Apple variety	Share (%)	Share according to age of the trees (%)
		0-4 y	5- 9 y	10-14 y	15-24 y	>25 y
Total	100,0	19,2	27,8	24,9	15,5	12,6
Idared	19,0	9,5	21,6	38,8	25,2	4,8
Jonagold	12,0	30,4	47,3	19,2	2,8	0,3
Sampion	9,0	31,1	45,4	19,9	3,3	0,2
Lobo	5,5	8,3	25,7	39,5	21,2	5,3
Cortland	5,2	6,3	21,3	38,6	27,9	6,0
Gloster	4,1	26,9	36,6	26,8	8,9	0,9
Ligol	3,7	53,0	37,5	8,0	1,4	0,2
Jonathan	3,2	5,0	8,1	15,5	33,2	38,2
Antonowka	2,7	3,6	12,5	30,0	24,3	29,6
Golden Delicious	1,8	37,2	35,2	14,1	7,2	6,3
Gala	1,6	44,9	39,7	11,3	3,8	0,1
Spartan	1,5	4,5	9,8	30,3	34,1	21,2
Delikates	1,4	29,2	45,5	19,3	5,6	0,3
McIntosh	1,4	2,8	8,5	20,4	31,0	37,3
Elstar	1,1	19,8	47,8	26,7	5,4	0,3
Boskoop	1,1	8,8	30,0	28,7	13,6	18,8
Bankroft	0,7	4,2	9,1	24,8	30,4	31,4
Jerseymac	0,7	8,9	19,0	33,2	17,6	21,3
Melrose	0,7	13,7	23,1	30,9	26,0	6,3
Red Delicious	0,6	20,3	41,1	19,3	15,7	3,5
James Grieve	0,4	8,5	18,7	36,9	19,6	16,4
Wealthy	0,3	5,5	22,0	31,5	21,5	19,4
Empire	0,2	21,3	34,7	24,5	17,3	2,2
others	22,0	19,2	18,3	15,7	14,1	32,7

source - Central Statistical Office of Poland

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