According to EastFruit analysts, wholesale prices for apples of “Gala” variety in Ukraine, Moldova and Poland are at record levels for this time for the last years. It is the most popular apple variety among exporters, as well as an increasingly popular apple variety among consumers, competing more and more successfully with the “Golden Delicious” variety.
While usually prices for Gala apple vary significantly in these three neighboring exporting countries, this season by mid-October prices in Moldova, Poland and Ukraine are almost identical, ranging from $0.51 to $0.53 per kg for a standard quality apple suitable for domestic fresh market sales.
As for the premium export quality apple, the prices are significantly higher. “The margin for the ‘premiumness’ of the apple is higher than usual in Eastern European countries this season. This is not only due to a general decrease in apple supply, but also to quality problems due to completely atypical weather conditions during the apple growing season,” says Andriy Yarmak, an economist in FAO’s investment department.
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In less than a month, prices for “Gala” in Ukraine rose by 36%. In Moldova, the rise in apple prices began later, but over the past three weeks, prices have strengthened by 11% at once. In Poland, prices for the same variety increased by 6% in two weeks, although before that they tended to decrease from the incredibly high levels from which the season started and were much higher than in Ukraine and Poland.
According to traders, the main reason for the rise in apple prices is the reluctance of producers to rush their sales. Even in Ukraine, where Russian invaders attack civilian infrastructure, including the country’s energy facilities, on a daily basis, farmers are trying to keep their apples for longer, hoping for even higher price levels.
It should be noted that the increase in apple prices at this time of year is atypical for Eastern European countries, as apple supply is usually maximized and farmers are in a hurry to sell off the part of the produce that cannot be stored for a long period of time. Therefore, it cannot be excluded that in the winter-spring period, the prices for apple of popular varieties will unpleasantly surprise consumers.
