The Municipality of Resen in Macedonia has received approximately 2,400 requests for compensation following damage to agricultural plantations, primarily affecting apple crops. This represents a major impact, as apples account for 60% of Macedonia's entire fruit crop. The spring frost in April severely impacted the Prespa region, freezing fruit trees for over 100 hours, leading to a complete loss of this year's apple harvest. Consequently, Macedonia will need to import apples, affecting market prices, with current imports from Serbia priced between 70 and 100 denars per kilogram.
In Prespa, approximately 5,000 hectares are dedicated to fruit plantations, yielding between 120,000 to 150,000 tons of apples in optimal seasons. The Municipality of Resen stated, "This is a huge loss for Prespa, but also for the country, because this year there will be no export income." A commission will assess the damage before compensation from the Ministry of Agriculture is expected, a process farmers hope will be expedited so they can prepare for the next season.
Since 2016, climate change has posed challenges, with spring frosts also affecting peaches, apricots, and almonds in regions like Rosoman. Despite attempts by some farmers to mitigate frost damage by spraying water on trees, these efforts proved ineffective, according to Prespa experts.
The apple varieties in Prespa include 80% Aydared, with the remainder being Golden Delicious, Muco, Iona Gold, and others. Apples are a staple in Macedonian diets, with families consuming an average of 33.3 kilograms annually. In late 2022, Agriculture Minister Cvetan Tripunoski announced modifications to a government measure supporting fruit growing, aiming to provide students and children in kindergartens with organic apples as part of a healthy diet. The "Healthy Snack for Every Student" measure, introduced in 2022, provided homemade apples to over 180,000 students in 350 schools, benefiting domestic apple producers.
In 2023, Macedonia imported $2 million worth of fresh apples, ranking 131st among global importers. The primary import sources included Serbia, Greece, Albania, Moldova, and Italy. Conversely, Macedonia exported $15.5 million worth of fresh apples, ranking 32nd among global exporters, according to OEC data.
Source: Slobodenpecat