UOKiK: fruit pricing fair, farmers protest

Fruit farmers are protesting against what they claim to be a unreasonably low fruit purchase prices. At the same time the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), released a statement that there is no price fixing involved in the current fruit prices. Farmers claim that the price they receive for fruit is at times one-tenth of the store price. One farmer claims he received PLN 0.80 per kg for delivery of cherries, whereas the harvest alone costs him PLN 0.50 per kg. To the cost of harvesting farmers add fertilizer and transportation spending. UOKiK claims that there are no unfair practices involved in this season’s low prices and that market conditions and the weak position of small farmers are responsible for the situation. Fruit batches have a short shelf life and large volumes produced are resulting in low prices. On the other hand, Poles seem to be purchasing more orange juice rather than the local black currant juice. In the meantime, farmers are calling for help from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development claiming that the low prices will force them into bankruptcy.