The new apple season promises a larger harvest and cheaper fruit
Ukraine is expecting a better apple harvest this year than last, despite spring frosts and challenging weather conditions during flowering. Experts say the market may see an increase in supply, which will directly affect consumer prices.
Despite spring frosts, erratic weather, and pollination issues in some orchards, the overall situation in Ukrainian apple orchards appears more stable than expected at the start of the season. Market experts note that a significant drop in yield is not currently forecast; on the contrary, there are grounds to expect an increase in gross harvest compared to last year.
Vladimir Gurzhiy, head of the fruit export company USPA Fruit, is quite optimistic about the prospects for the new season, emphasizing that conditions in the orchards look better than last year. According to him, despite some losses due to frost and rain during the blooming period, the overall picture suggests a decent outcome. “As of now, I view the new season as entirely positive. As things stand today, it looks like the harvest will be good. It should be larger than last year’s,” noted Volodymyr Gurzhiy.
At the same time, the expert cautions against prematurely pessimistic forecasts, which often appear even before the active harvest begins, when the actual situation in the orchards may differ significantly from estimates made at the start of the season. According to him, it is the actual harvest volumes that will reveal the true market balance.
The expected increase in apple supply is projected to put additional pressure on both wholesale and retail prices. Experts note that the Ukrainian domestic market currently lacks sufficient mechanisms to quickly regulate excess production volumes, which could lead to price fluctuations during the peak harvest season.
The situation will also change in the industrial processing segment, where high prices for apple concentrate last year supported demand for industrial apples. This season, processing plants are already working with accumulated stocks, which may also affect purchase prices for farmers.
According to preliminary estimates, Ukrainian consumers may have a wider selection of apples on the market at more affordable prices than last year, but the situation may become more challenging for producers. The profitability of fruit farming will increasingly depend on production efficiency, logistics, and the ability to quickly find markets, rather than solely on harvest volumes. This is reported by AgroTimes.
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