DEMAND OF POLISH HOUSEHOLDS FOR FRUIT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF DOMESTIC FRUIT PRODUCTION

The basic research material comprised empirical data on household budgets conducted by GUS (Central Statistical Office), between 2005 and 2012. The changes in Polish demand for fruit and their products were analyzed, excluding bananas and citruses as they are not native to Polish fruit production. The changes in the consumption volume of fruit and their products in the households as well as in the structure of product type consumed were investigated. In order to determine the basic economic factors that might affect the demand development, the author presented the changes in incomes and general consumption structure and its transformations where the fruits are not considered to be basic goods (are not a basic need). The fruits represent a negligible part in the pattern of consumption, and with low incomes, the spending on them can be limited (are not necessary for life). Another key factor forming the volume of the consumed fruit is their prices which influenced the periodical changes in demand for particular species. These changes are partly attributed to variations in domestic production highly dependent on atmospheric conditions. The changes in demand were presented against this overall production showing its rate of utilization and its potential changes in this respect.