Poland has for years topped the list of the biggest producers and exporters of apples in the EU.
As head of the national union of fruit and vegetable producers, Witold Boguta told Polish Radio's IAR news service, the weather this year has been very good for fruit growing: "The weather up to now, and the forecasts, indcate that the quality of the harvest will be good. The fruit is well developed, properly coloured and pleasant to look at. When the apples are marketed, they are certain to sell, whether for direct consumption or processing", he said.
In Poland, the biggest concentration of orchards is in the central region of Mazovia. Also popular are apples from the Łąck Valley in Lesser Poland - they are distinguished by their tartness and denser flesh. Bolesław Zając, who heads the group of producers Owoc Łącki tells IAR that the apples "have what is called a Highland green note, with a more intense taste".
He adds that this is because the orchards here are situated on slopes, where the climate conditions are slightly different than in other regions of the country.
Slightly over a half of the apples will be processed, the remainder is to be marketed fresh, as dessert fruit.
Source: IAR