Economics of the 2009-2012 Organic Apple, Strawberry, and Sour Cherry Production in Poland

Certified organic farm area in Poland increased 8.5 fold during the 2003-2010 time period to 518 thousand ha, which constituted 2.8% of the arable land. The production costs and profitability of the organic fruit production of apples, strawberries, and sour cherries were evaluated and compared to conventional production of those fruits. The research was based on data from thirty-two commercial fruit farms; twenty farms with conventional production, and twelve with organic production. The main problems associated with organic production were the costs of weed control and soil cultivation. The conventional production of apples turned out to be slightly more profitable than the organic production. The organic production of sour cherries was not profitable. In the case of strawberries, it was the opposite - the organic production gave a better financial outcome than the conventional one