The largest apple producers in Europe – here are some statistics!
European apples are gaining popularity among consumers around the world. This is due not only to their taste and the constantly growing range of varieties, but also to their high quality. In the European Union, depending on the season, between 11 and 12 million tons of apples are produced annually. Interestingly, only three countries are responsible for 2/3 of this production: Poland, Italy and France. What else in terms of statistics (and not only!) can positively surprise apple customers from the EU?
Poland
The undisputed leader – both in terms of cultivation area and the volume of apple production on the old continent – is Poland. Apple trees are grown there on approximately 159,000 ha, which constitutes as much as 1/3 of the entire EU planting area. In Poland, on average, from 3.2 to even 4.5 million tons of apples are harvested annually. This means that every third EU apple comes from Poland! In terms of harvest volume, Poland is also an important player on a global scale, where it gives in only to China, the United States and Turkey.
Over recent years, Polish fruit farming has undergone a dynamic metamorphosis – both in terms of modernization of production systems and the selection of varieties. Currently, Polish apples are produced using integrated methods, and there is a growing interest in organic production. The newly established quarters are dominated by varieties such as Red Jonaprince (approx. 18% of production), Gala (17%), Idared (17%), Champion (11%) and Golden Delicious (10%). The first commercial plantings of club varieties have also taken place, e.g. Magic Star.
Polish apples are sought after abroad, as well. They reach not only the European market (including Germany, Romania, Spain) or the markets of the Middle East (such as Egypt and Jordan), but they are also gaining recognition in more distant corners of the world: Kazakhstan, India, Bangladesh, Thailand and even Costa Rica and Colombia. Last year, Polish apples were sent to a total of 76 countries around the world, and the export volume exceeded 800,000 tons.
Italy
Italy ranks second in terms of apple production in Europe. Approx. 2 million tons of fruit are harvested there every year. In Italian orchards, which cover an area of approx. 55,000 ha (11% of the European area), the dominant varieties are: Golden Delicious (approx. 40% of production), Gala (15%), Red Delicious (10%), Fuji (9%) and Granny Smith (8%).
Fruit production in this country is also developing and changing very dynamically. In recent years, the share of the so-called club varieties has been intensely increasing – both in terms of area and the number of new varieties. Apart from the already stabilized market position of the Pink Lady club variety in Europe, the Italians are experimenting with such creations as: Ambrosia, Envy, Kanzi, Shinano Gold, Magic Star, Cosmic Crisp, Morgana and Tessa.
Italy is also one of the most important European apple exporters. More than half of the apples produced there go to foreign markets (an average of approx. 1.2 million tons annually). The main recipients are currently European countries, primarily Great Britain, but also Germany, Spain, and France. Countries in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and South America are also gaining importance.
France
Although for hundreds of years French gardening has been associated primarily with the production of high-class wine and the picturesque landscapes of vineyards in Bordeaux, Alsace and Burgundy, France does not flow only with wine. This country is one of the most important European apple producers. With an almost identical planting area to Italy, but slightly smaller annual harvests – 1.5 million tons – it ranks among the big three European apple producers.
Although the main varieties grown in this country include Golden (with a share of 25% of production), Gala (21%), Cripps Pink (14%) and Granny Smith (11%), the area planted with new club varieties, such as Juliet, Ariane or Kissabel, Antares, is also growing on this market. Last year, they had a six percent share in the harvest.
On average, 350,000 tons of French apples are exported annually. They go mainly to the markets of Great Britain, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Colombia and Thailand.
Apples from Europe – this is it!
It is worth emphasising that all apples produced in the EU, regardless of the country of origin, have a unique taste, aroma, appearance and even texture of the flesh. These features, which stand out from apples produced in other regions of the world, are not only the result of agrotechnical procedures carried out carefully. European apples also owe their unique properties to the weather conditions during their ripening (high temperature differences between days and nights, typical of autumn months on the old continent).
