Holovousy (Jičínsko) – The apple harvest in the European Union for this year is projected to be the lowest in eight years, reaching approximately 10.455 million tons, reflecting a slight decline of 0.1% compared to last year. This estimate comes from the World Apple and Pear Producers Association (WAPA), as reported to ČTK. Czech fruit growers previously indicated an anticipated increase in the apple harvest, expecting it to rise to over 107,000 tons from last year’s 36,040 tons, following an extraordinary decline due to frosts. The Fruit Growers Union states that Czech apples will again compete favorably in price against imported varieties, which may lead to a reduction in prices.
Poland is expected to have the highest apple yield, with an estimated year-on-year increase of 3.4% to 3.3 million tons, representing a significant portion of apple imports to the Czech Republic. In Italy, the harvest is estimated to fall by 3.5% to 2.25 million tons, while France anticipates a 3.6% increase to 1.48 million tons. German growers expect a substantial rise in their harvest by 14.7% to one million tons.
According to Martin Ludvík, chairman of the Fruit Growers Union of the Czech Republic, the apple yield in the Czech Republic may exceed the June forecasts. “The rainy July contributed positively, and if moisture persists, the harvest could be better than anticipated,” Ludvík told ČTK. He believes a higher yield of Czech apples should enhance price competition against imports. “Due to last year’s poor harvest, Czech apples were scarce in the market during the first half of this year, allowing retail chains to set high prices,” Ludvík noted.
Data from the Czech Statistical Office shows the average price of apples in stores reached 40.21 crowns per kilogram in May, marking a year-on-year increase of 22.6%. By July, the price rose by 23% to over 45 crowns per kilogram. Growers are seeking to foster competition with stores by selling apples directly from their farms. Currently, Ludvík reports that prices for farm-direct apples range from 25 to 35 crowns per kilogram, depending on quality.
Last year, severe spring frosts led to the lowest harvest for fruit growers in a century, causing substantial damages estimated at around 1.3 billion crowns. In response, the European Union and the Czech Republic allocated 445 million crowns for compensation, with 539 growers applying for assistance. This year, spring frosts resulted in only localized damage to fruit growers. (August 14)
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