Russia’s ban on importing EU agricultural products will cause the loss of more than 300,000 tonnes of apples grown in Poland, a quantity more than the whole crop of the Netherlands or the UK, and risks causing a European glut of the fruit.
Poland’s apple and pear growers face substantial losses due the Russian embargo on farm imports from EU nations and other western countries which this year imposed sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis.
Polish agriculture minister Marek Sawicki said Poland would ask the European Commission to step up help for Polish farmers, saying the €125m offered in compensation was not enough and the problem could destabilise the European fruit market.
Russia was the main apple export market for Poland, the leading EU producer and exporter of the fruit. Poland accounts for about a quarter of commercial apple production in the EU and is the third-ranked worldwide grower behind China and the US. Imports from Poland were halted once before in 2008.
Despite record Polish production this year of 3.5m tonnes (3m tonnes were grown last year), much of the crop is lower quality and less suitable for long-term storage. Many orchards are expected to be only partially harvested.
The price of Polish apples fell sharply in October, by 77 per cent year-on-year, according to commodities data firm Mintec, while production was up 12 per cent compared with the previous season.
Mintec said the crop had benefited from very good weather in northern and western Europe this spring and summer, increasing yield and quality for most producing countries.
Last year 1kg of apples sold for about 2 zlotys (€0.47) but are now being offered for 0.60 zlotys, or half the cost of production, one grower said.
Young activists have launched an “eat Polish apples and drink cider” campaign on social media, particularly Twitter, encouraging their supporters to bite back at the export ban. One supermarket chain’s campaign slogan reads: “Patriotism never tasted so good.”
Brussels puts the value of Poland’s entire fruit trade with Russia at over €339m (£271m).