Fruit and vegetable farmers in Poland are feeling the impact of the Russian ban on food imports and are dissatisfied with the EU Commission response. Prices for many vegetables have collapsed, some by as much as half, according to Karol Bujoczek, editor of leading farming publication Top Agrar.

“Even if we only export 10% to 15% of produce to Russia, the impact on prices is huge,” he said.

Polish growers are unhappy with the compensation fund available from Brussels and the requirement to dump harvest-ready crops without knowing the final yield or rate of compensation.

Bujoczek also explained that apples are a huge concern. Poland typically exports 750,000t of apples per year to Russia but now the border is closed.

Dairy processors in Poland are also under pressure. “Russia accounted for 10% to 15% of our export volume, but for some companies close to the border, it was up to 50%,” he explained.