Polish PM announces protection for soft fruit producers

On January 27th, during a press conference in Koszalin in northern Poland, polish PM Mr Andrzej Lepper, who holds also the position of Minister of Agriculture, announced that a new regulation aimed to protect the soft fruit producers is under preparation. Refering to unanswered calls to the European Commission for the protection of soft fruit producers, he said that the Ministry will put forward a project of legislation forcing the companies, operating chilled and frozen storages and exporting soft fruit to sign with growers long-term contracts for the delivery of these goods. In his opinion, long-term contracts will guarantee the producers stable wholesale prices, what should give them enough protection against market fluctuations resulting often in losses.