During its tenure at the helm of the European Union, Poland has opted to distribute apples at EU events, underlining its position as the top apple producer in Europe. This initiative, announced by the Polish Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry, aims to support local growers and showcase the nation's apple cultivation prowess. Poland, harvesting approximately 4 million tonnes annually, stands as the continent's leading apple producer and ranks fourth globally.
The ministry's decision to designate the apple as the "official fruit" of Poland's EU presidency reflects the cultural significance and economic importance of this crop to the country. The move is intended to provide attendees of EU events with an authentic Polish experience while bolstering the domestic apple industry. Poland's apple exports in 2023, amounting to around 817,000 tonnes, primarily target EU markets such as Germany, Romania, Spain, and Sweden, in addition to countries outside the EU including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and India.
The development of Poland's apple sector can be attributed to historical contributions from Cistercian and Benedictine monks during the Middle Ages and significant advancements by Professor Szczepan Pieniążek in the post-war era. Pieniążek's innovations, including the introduction of dwarf trees and American apple varieties, have been instrumental in enhancing the annual fruit-bearing capacity of apple trees in Poland. Notably, during its first EU presidency in 2011, Poland chose the strawberry to represent its agricultural output, highlighting another key segment of its export portfolio.
Source: TVP World