Participants of occasions in the course of the Polish EU presidency will take pleasure in a fruity shock: native apples will take heart stage because the official image of this six-month mandate.
Poland has chosen the apple because the image of its presidency and it will likely be served at their occasions in each Warsaw and Brussels.
European nations holding the six-monthly presidency of the Council of the EU often use some type of image: Estonia has launched a robot mascot, whereas Hungary has adopted a Trumpian slogan throughout his just lately concluded tenure.
Food is a frequent cliché, a lot in order that the Belgian presidency final 12 months used the chocolate emblem ceremonially damaged by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier than being eaten by EU leaders on the inauguration occasion.
The emblem of the Polish presidency is impressed by the long-lasting Solidarity motion, however the nation has additionally chosen an apple, outlined by the organizers as a “supply of nationwide pleasure”, as its official image symbol of the presidency.
Due to their high quality, apples grown within the Polish district of Grojec are even protected by the EU geographical indication.
This is not Poland’s first fruitful foray for an EU presidency: in 2011, Polish strawberries have been within the highlight, showcasing the nation’s agricultural strengths.
Poland produces 4 million tons per 12 months and is the chief in apple manufacturing in Europe, so there needs to be sufficient reserves.
Polish apples have additionally gained worldwide fame, with exports reaching 817,000 tonnes in 2023, extending from gross sales to neighboring Germany and Romania to markets as distant as India, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
In 2014, when Russia banned the import of fruit and greens from Poland (together with apples) in response to EU sanctions over the invasion of Crimea, Poles turned their apples into symbols of resistance.
A social media marketing campaign, with hashtags equivalent to #jedzjabłka (“Eat apples”) and the Facebook web page #EatApplesToAnnoyPutin, went viral, rallying help for farmers and highlighting the significance of the fruit.
Now Poland is as soon as once more counting on the facility of its apples as a logo.
