The Protest and Strike Committee of the Polish Paprika Producers Association and non-associated producers was established on July 11.
In their opinion “the current situation on the market of thermophilic vegetables, in particular peppersbeing the result of attempts to destabilize the market by large commercial corporations” threatens, as almost every year, with a price collapse. As a result, producers are to be forced to sell their products below the break-even point.
“We are announcing a strike emergency. The emergency announcement is the first form of our protest, intended to make commercial entities aware that we will not allow fair remuneration for our work to be taken away with impunity,” it was written.
It added that “in the absence of understanding, we will escalate the forms of protest to more and more radical ones, including strikes, pickets, blocking commercial entities.”
Spanish pepper displaces Polish
Producers of Polish pepper believe that the import of this vegetable from the Netherlands spoils the market. The Polish season has barely started, and there is no price pressure. Paweł Myziak from Euro-Papryka points out that the Dutch have started to sell goods below production costs.
– The production of 1 kg of pepper is about PLN 5. Since the end of 2021, it has increased by approx. PLN 1. There is a huge disproportion between the prices for peppers from abroad and ours. In winter, when peppers were imported, the prices were very high, the season of native peppers begins and much lower rates are offered at the same production cost – believes the producer. He adds that the price for loose peppers expected by farmers is PLN 5.50-6 per kg. A customer in a shop would pay about PLN 9/kg. Spaniards have an advantage because they simply have more sun during the year. And it’s warmer. – There is no need to race for prices at the expense of the Polish producer – believes Myziak.
Paprika and denunciations to UOKiK
Mirosław Łuska, president of the Polish Paprika Producers Association, explains how the strike is to proceed in an interview with money.pl.
I see in the supermarket that the price of 1 kg of pepper from the Netherlands is PLN 5.99. Chains acting in this way lead to a reduction in the value of our production and it is no longer profitable. We actually sell against the law, because selling below production costs is prohibited. That is why we will write letters to UOKiK. They will be denunciations of ourselves and we will see what happens. Maybe someone will finally notice what big corporations are doing. It’s time to create a Polish trading system that will protect the Polish producer – explains Łuska.
Already last year, pepper producers protested and an agreement was reached.
– I believe that will be the case this time as well. But if our statement doesn’t help, we will escalate the protest. The appearance of 50 buses and semi-trucks in the supermarket parking lot with fire sirens must be impressive. Nobody wants to have such a discount in front of their shop – adds Łuska.
Pepper producers give retail chains until July 16.
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2023-07-12 19:38:29
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