A representative from a major Polish apple export group has said the recent opening of the Chinese market is a 'big relief' for the industry, and hopes the development will benefit growers throughout Europe.

China signed the protocols for apple exports from the Eastern European country earlier this week, as part of a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Speaking to www.freshfruitportal.com, Appolonia general director Karolina Zaluska said the industry had been waiting a long time for this breakthrough moment.

"It’s a big relief because we have been speaking with Chinese partners for around three years, since just around the time the Russian embargo started," she said.

"We have had a lot of offers and discussions and visits with the Chinese, so finally now we are lucky that this agreement has been finalized and signed."

Appolonia has already signed its first contract with a Chinese importer and is planning the first shipments at the beginning of the next season in September.

Chinese inspectors must still visit and certify the Polish farms that want to ship to the Asian country, but Zaluska said that under the agreement this would be done before the next campaign gets underway.

"Now we just have agreements and contracts, but physically we are not able te sell in China. We expect to be able to in a month or two - it’s a part of the official agreement," she said.

The representative said some fruit may be sent to China via trainfreight, along the railway line running between the two countries. However, first clarification would be needed as to whether Russia will allow banned produce items to pass through its territory.

"There has been no final decision, but discussions are ongoing on the official level to see if it will be possible," she said.

"But we hope so, because we would just be transferring the fruit and not putting it on the Russian market."

In terms of the varieties likely to be shipped to the new market, Zaluska said trials would first need to be carried out to assess what the Chinese consumer is looking for.

"Many consumers there do not know our varieties. They have to learn about lots of our apples - I suppose they are a little bit different from New Zealand and U.S. fruit," she said.

"But generally in the Far East they prefer apples with a full red color."

If exports volumes are high in the future, Zaluska said the benefits would likely be felt by far more growers than just those shipping to China.

"It’s a big market, bigger than Europe," she said.

"So if we can sell our apples I suppose this will influence the prices here because it means there will be less product in Poland. There should also be less pressure on European market so the prices should go up for everyone finally.

"But of course, it will not happen very fast because Chinese consumers need to get to know our apples."

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