Apple buying stops due to poor harvest

The apple harvest was so poor this year that the seasonal buying-in period was much shorter than usual.

In the Ukmergė district, the buying season started on 8 September, but buyers have already announced that they will only be open until this Friday, 19 September.

The reason for this is the poor harvest and the decision of the processor of this product, „Anykščių vino“.

So all those whose gardens have survived the frost will now have to consider how to get rid of the fallen trees.

Although the purchase price of unpicked apples is very low – this year it was 10 cents per kilo, people in the countryside and in the city, who still have orchards, are still happy to make use of this, so to speak, social service – after all, they don't have to take the apples anywhere, they just pick them up from the yard, they just have to be put in sacks.

And now we will have to think about where to put the harvest, because apples are not apples to be picked, they rot very quickly.

When asked what prompted this year's early cessation of the apple buying season, Liubovė Rebiatnikova, production director of „Anykščiai Wine“, said that unfortunately the harvest this year is – much lower than last year, as spring frosts affected all regions of Lithuania. The impact has been greater in some areas and less in others, she said, but growers are suffering losses all over the country.

„Our main suppliers are individuals who collect apples from private orchards. The big industrial orchards are not expecting a good harvest this year, so their contribution will be only token. Since the local supply is not sufficient, we are also receiving additional apples from neighbouring countries – Latvia and Poland“, – shared the thoughts of the production director of „Anykščiai wine“.

Friday 19 September will be the last day of apple picking from private orchards, she said.