Swiss fruit producers against free trade with EU

Swiss Fruit Producers Association together with Swiss Vegetables Producers Association declared their objection against project of free trade of agro-products with EU. By removing the border & custom limits the swiss producers could reduce their costs using cheaper stuffs or machines but these savings would be far too little to compensate the loss of expected takings! Next thing to observe is the enormous difference in fruit prices between Swiss and EU. According to the branch research made by University of Saint Gallen concerning the apple market, the average EU prices of Gala and Golden Delicious, the table apples first class in South-Tyrol are almost at the same level of price as the same apples, second class, in Switzerland. The reason for such little savings on production part is a very high cost of labour. The amount of labour costs by different apple sorts makes up in the whole production between 48 to 65 percent. So, free trade treaty wouldn't make any change. In accordance with research after signing the treaty, 29 big swiss fruitfarms would gave up. That is why Swiss Fruit Producers Association demanded to exclude fruit and vegetables trade from the project of treaty. When such exclusion couldn't be possible, the compensations payments and promt protective measures for producers and manufacturers must follow and meet at least minimum level as supporting payments in EU.