Severe Frosts Devastate Polish Fruit Crops

In the Świętokrzyskie region, fruit growers are facing significant crop losses due to unexpected late frosts. TVP Kielce reports that after the trees bloomed, a wave of cold weather hit, leaving much of the fruit blackened and unfit for consumption.

One fruit grower, who cultivates plums, apples, pears, and cherries on 9 hectares, told TVP Kielce that 60-70% of his crops might not be suitable for sale. To mitigate losses, farmers work through the night, spraying crops from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., creating protective layers of ice. However, this year, even these measures proved insufficient.

Another fruit grower highlighted the risk of even brief inattention. A friend with 4 hectares of crops fell asleep, missing critical time for frost protection. By the time he woke up, the temperature had dropped to -5 degrees Celsius, leading to devastating losses.

Meteorologists warn that the frosts may continue, with snowfall expected in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. Forecasters predict a warm-up by next Friday, but until then, fruit growers remain at risk, struggling to salvage what they can.