HORTI-TECH CONFERENCE OFFERS PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE FOR FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS

9. conference on fruit varieties is held in Targi Kielce within the scope of HORTITECH
Expo

Poland is one of Europe's largest apples producer.  According to CSO data, we produce 3.5 million tons of apples a year.  Once the Russian market has been closed for Polish apples, Poland has had to find new markets which would recuperate Polish fruit export reductions.  Fruit expo to distant markets, such as the Arab Countries and China is now a chance for Polish apple producers. However knowledge of particular markets' requirements is necessary.

 The Fruit and Vegetable Technology Expo HORTI-TECH in Targi Kielce includes the 9th  Conference of Fruit Varieties.  The day-long conference programme includes a wide range of topics Polish fruit and vegetable growers, producers groups and exporters find important. One of the panels included experts' presentations -  Anita Łukawska  a representative of  Plantpress  , gave an insight into the  distant markets export from a practical perspective .

 - It is a positive trend to see  Fruit Producers Group formation; these entities offer appropriate infrastructure to prepare apples export  - said Anita Łukawska during the conference.  - Therefore  fruit farmers  can focus on  quality fruit production  and the GPO will take care of sales and an active prospering for customers. In addition, GPO have more tools so that they can efficiently prepare export goods and stand out among competitors.

 Total Polish  apples export  in the 2016/2017 season amounted to  968 thousand tone  (in the 2014/205 season it was 966 thousand tonnes) which gives Poland the third position in the world ranking. However the geographical structure of exports markets for apples has changed.

The EU market account for  364 thousand tones.  And Romania became the largest target market (62.6 thousand. tones), ahead of Germany -  54 thousand tones. There has also been 21% increase in exports to the countries outside the EU - the volume reached  603 thousand tones.

Non-European countries interested in buying Polish apples are the countries of North Africa, the Middle and Far East (Morocco, Tunisia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Oman, Liberia, Mali, Syria, Kuwait, Vietnam, etc.) and China.

Polish apples have marked their presence at the markets which Polish fruit growers find quite exotic. However Polish exporters need to meet a number of conditions.

- Arab countries look for unified colour apples (practically single-shade rind), firm, sweet. Apples often need to be waxed. Two-colour apples are not to the consumers' liking because they are considered under-ripe - emphasizes Anita Łukawska. - The Middle East and North Africa are ready to take apples right after harvest. Fruit farmers are not for this option -  she adds.

On the other hand, the Chinese market, as the expert reminds, was a part of the European Two-Colour Apples campaign which started in 2014. This resulted in Chinese market's interested in  Polish apples owing to their different appearance and taste. Those who want to send apples to China have to take in consideration possible difficulties that arise during production and transportation.

In the panel summary, Anita Łukawska of Plantpress recapitulated the main conditions for fruit farmers, producers groups and exporters before they decide to export apples to the distant eastern markets.

The panel was very popular among visitors, who attentively listened to the presentations.

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