In 2013, total stone fruit production in Poland will increase as compared to the 2012 crop. Production of cherries (tart and sweet) is forecast at 230 Thousand MT (TMT), 6.2 percent higher the previous season. Industry projections are for sweet cherries output higher than for sour cherries (17 percent versus 4 percent).
Production of other stone fruits - plums, peaches and apricots, is expected to increase by about 7 percent, to 123.1 TMT (for peaches to 9.1 TMT).
Poland’s 2012-2013 winter left orchards in a very good shape. Unlike last year, there was no loss due to frost. Weather conditions during flowering and fruit setting were good. The 2013 late spring resulted in delayed spring vegetation, but had no affect on fruit yields. In some regions of Poland destruction of buds on fruit trees did occur, caused by heavy spring rain storms. Due to these unfavorable conditions the cherry crop proved smaller in comparison with earlier forecasts. In 2012 high cherry prices and good farmer profitability contributed to an increase in acreage of cherries and peaches. In 2013 the acreage of cherry orchards reached 46 thousands of hectares (34 thousand for sour and 12 thousand for sweet cherries). It also resulted in an increase of investments and better care of cherry orchards.
In the EU, Poland is the leader in cherry production, generating half of total EU cherry production.Poland leads world production and export of frozen sour cherries and together with Turkey is the world’s major producer of cherry juice concentrate. Cherries are the main stone fruit cultivated in Poland. In 2012, Polish stone fruit production ratios follow: sour cherry (53 percent), plums (31 percent), sweet cherry (12 percent), peaches (three percent), and apricots (one percent). Nectarines are not cultivated in Poland.
