It will be another tough season for Golden Delicious apples.

The new season of apple trading is gaining momentum. It is known that there will be fewer of these fruits throughout Europe. Significantly lower yields are expected in Poland, and this is already reflected in the prices of both dessert and industrial apples. However, not all varieties will benefit equally. Among those for which the 2024/2025 campaign may be challenging, the Golden Delicious variety stands out.

There are significant concerns, especially after the disastrous previous season, when this variety, formerly one of the most sought after and usually commanding higher prices, suffered a sharp decline in demand. This, combined with generally high yields, led to a significant drop in prices. The drop was not even deeper only because a large portion of this variety was used for industrial purposes.

The factors that contributed to the poor performance of the previous season for Golden have not completely disappeared. One thing has changed - the fact that Golden yields in Poland and Europe are noticeably lower. However, the crucial factor remains demand. And here, the improvement may not be substantial.

There is still a significant issue with exports to Egypt. Currently, at the start of the season, demand is very weak, and it is uncertain whether it will improve. Egypt is facing major economic difficulties, constantly struggling with currency payments, and the escalating conflict in the Middle East is adding to these challenges. This factor severely hindered trade with Asia through the Red Sea blockade in the previous season, and the same scenario may unfold this season.

We will definitely have better demand for Golden in the EU market, but will this be enough to significantly boost sales of Polish Golden apples? There should also be an improvement in exports to Central Asia, although geopolitics pose logistical challenges in this region as well. It won't be easy, even with the increased deliveries to processing, as is being announced.

And how are the prices looking now? Golden Delicious in size 70+ is currently being purchased for 1.60-1.80 PLN/kg on average. This is about 6 percent cheaper than at the start of the trading season. Prices for industrial-grade Golden range from 1.10-1.30 PLN/kg, with some offers even reaching 1.40 PLN/kg, which is a significant incentive for growers compared to dessert apple prices. Many will likely decide to avoid the problems from the end of the last season. If this happens and only top-quality Golden apples remain on the market in limited supply, there is a glimmer of hope for prices of this variety in the fresh market.