Bad year for Greek apples – More than 18 million euros in lost income for Kastoria farmers

The loss of income of the apple producers of Kastoria is estimated at 1,290 euros/1000 sq. m., due to the reduced sales prices and increased production costs, while the total loss reaches 18.31 million euros.

According to data from producers, export and commercial entities, as well as Producer Organizations in the year 2022 the selling price of apples will show a decrease of more than 50%.

According to data from the Directorate of Agricultural Economy, in the Regional Unit of Kastoria around 1420 hectares are cultivated with apples of various varieties (Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Jona Gold, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, etc.), with the largest produced quantity to be sold mainly to third countries abroad (Jordan, Egypt, Arab Emirates, Lithuania, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, etc.).

Their yield is about 4,000 kg/1000 sq. m. and the total production in the Regional Unit of Kastoria exceeds 50,000 tons.

Reduced sale price

The selling price of apples has fallen by more than 50%, according to data from producers, export and trade operators and Producer Organizations for 2022.

The reduced selling price is a result of:

• Changes to exporters’ payments imposed by Egypt (capital control)
• The embargo imposed by Belarus on the fruits of the countries of the European Union.
• The large increase in the price of energy (a jump in the price of electricity of more than 500%), which is necessary for the preservation of fruit in cold rooms.
• The increase in transport costs, due to the large increase in the price of fuel.

In order to calculate the estimated loss of income per hectare, in addition to the low selling price of the produced product, the large increase in production costs which is mainly due to:

• Increased energy prices
• Increased fuel prices
• Increased labor prices and
• Increased prices of agricultural supplies (plant protection products, fertilizers, etc.