Poland: Increase in fruit and vegetable prices?

As a result of heavy rain, a short fall of fruits and vegetables on the market may result in a rise in prices in Poland.

“The situation is not critical; however, if the heavy rain continue for several weeks, the harvest of fruit, vegetables and other crops could be much smaller,” says Andrzej Gantner, general manager of the Polish Federation of Food Industry.

With lower supply in Poland imports will have to rise. Last year, Poland imported agricultural products worth 2.8 billion euro, 400 million euro more than the year before. It is estimated that this year the increase in imports might well be even higher.

According to Eberhard Makosz from the Society for Promotion of Orchards (TRSK), the most significant losses to the harvest have already been in the strawberry crop, of which there will be 20 percent less than in 2008, as well as cherries, with a 30 percent shortfall: “If it does not stop raining, there might well be a lack of strawberries and cherries on the Polish market,” he said.

According to the assessments by the Food Economy Committee, crops of apples will be 25 percent lower with a loss of production of 2.5 million tons. Last year, the Central Statistical Office (GUS) estimated that blackcurrant crop were 120, 000 to 130, 000 tons; whereas, this year they will probably fall to 90,000 tons.

“So far, we have managed to stock up on strawberries from the national harvests; nevertheless, we still have to buy in other fruit and vegetables,” says Joanna Bancerowska from Agros Nova. (lj/pg)

source: Wirtualna Polska