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Strawberry production in Poland for 2009 was estimated at 195,000 tons, a drop in 3% from 2008. Poland remains the biggest exporter of processed strawberries in the EU and also produces and exports strawberry juice to the US.

According to Polish Analytical Centre of Customs Administration, between January and July 2009, Poland exported 61.2 thousand t of frozen strawberries at value 63.5 million euro.

According to the Polish Analytical Centre of Customs Administration (CAAC) in the period between January and April 2009 Poland exported 32 thousand t of frozen strawberries i.e. by 35 % more than in the same period 2008.

Despite the unfavourable weather for cultivation of strawberries, their supply on the market is big at the moment. Prices of dessert strawberries are from 1.50 PLN (0.33 euro)/kg and to 3.50-3.75 PLN (0.77-0.82 euro)/kg.

Despite the unfavourable weather and lower supply of strawberries processing plants are buying strawberries at much lower prices than last year and additionally they are limiting the amount of bought fruits.

On Wednesday, June 10 the weather didn’t improve much. Water on strawberries plantations made the harvest difficult and adversely affected the quality of fruits.

At the end of the week prices of strawberries growing under protection slightly increased. On Friday, June 5 in the afternoon prices ranged from 3 to 5 PLN (0.66-1.10 euro)/2 kg, while earlier it was 2.5-3 PLN (0.55-0.66 euro)/2kg.

The cold weather at the beginning of June resulted in decreasing demand for dessert strawberries. In hot days the demand for strawberries would be much higher.

Cultivations of strawberries were adversely affected by heavy rain and hail last weekend. It resulted in damaged fruits and serious flooding of some plantations what can cause in consequence further stopping of harvest and spoiling of fruits.

According to preliminary data of Analytical Centre of Customs Administration (CAAC) in 2008 the average export price of frozen strawberries, Polish flagship export frozen product, was 1.37 euro/kg.

According to preliminary data on export in 2008 Poland exported 85.6 thousand t of frozen strawberries at value 116 million euro.

In the current commercial season there is a great risk that a big stock of frozen strawberries will remain till the next season.

According to Polish Analytical Centre of Customs Administration (CAAC) between January and November 2008 Poland exported 74.2 thousand t of frozen strawberries at value 100.9 million euro.

Even though in 2008 the purchase prices of berry fruit were lower than in 2007, the prices of preserves of these fruits increased.

Data on the export in the first half of 2008 shows that China exported 54.6 thousand ton of frozen strawberries. In the same time Mexico sold 53.1 thousand ton and Poland 53 thousand ton.

Trading companies in wielkopolskie province buy domestic strawberries grown under protections.

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According to Foreign Agricultural Markets Monitoring Unit (FAMMU/FAPA), this year's value of export of deep-frozen strawberries, in the period January – June, was higher by 10% than last year, in spite of the volume of exported strawberries fell by 27%.

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The forecast of production cost of strawberries prepared by Horticultural Economics Department of IAFE-NRI (ZEO-IERiGŻ-PIB) shows these costs will be at level of 2.35 - 2.48 PLN/kg (or 22 350 - 25 800 PLN/ha).

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In Zachodniopomorskie province contracts concluded between cold storage plants and producers for strawberries are at the level of 0,88 – 0,94 EUR/kg, delivered to the plant. Processors are afraid that price will not stay at this level and price increase will occur in further period of purchasing.

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Poland exports big volumes of cooled strawberries next to deep-frozen ones. 24 thousand tons were sold in 2006, in 2007 this volume decreased to 17,3 thousand tons due to bad crops.

In Podkarpackie province processing plants started purchasing of wild strawberries. Price of fruit delivered to plant was 2.31 EUR/kg. Wild strawberries are used for production of fruit mixes and food flavours intended for e.g. yoghurts and ice creams.

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On Monday the prices of dessert strawberries were at the level of 1.18 – 1.47 EUR for 2 kg basket. The lack of rain causes that more and more strawberries on the market are of poor quality and small size.

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On Tuesday, June 10th prices of dessert strawberries ranged from 1.33 to 2.07 for 2 kg basket. Price of strawberries of 1st class, cooled, intended for export reached 2.37 EUR for 2 kg basket.

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In Kujawsko-pomorskie province (area of Grudziądz and Dąbrowa Chełmińska) prices of strawberries for deep freezing delivered to plant are one of the highest in the country and reach 0.80 – 0.83 EUR/kg.

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Some processing plants, especially smaller ones, started purchasing of strawberries (without stalk and calyx) for deep freezing. In the west of Poland purchase price of strawberries is about 0.89 EUR/kg.