For many years Poland and Serbia have played the dominating roles in European raspberry production. However, the growing production in Ukraine might threaten the relative stability of the raspberry market for both countries. It is projected that in the coming years Ukraine will strengthen its competitive position in relation to the current industrial raspberry production leaders. This justifies the need to conduct comparative analyses of competitive power, and its contributory factors, including production costs in individual countries. The aim of this study was to compare economic viability and cost-effectiveness in raspberry production, using the examples of selected horticultural holdings in Poland, Serbia, and Ukraine. The production volumes of raspberries in Poland, Serbia and Ukraine were analysed. The levels of costs and the financial results generated in raspberry cultivation for processing purposes were also determined, using the example of horticultural holdings in this countries. The results indicated that the direct costs in Ukraine, were just over half lower those in Poland and Serbia. The raspberry crop yields in the three investigated countries were similar, and the sales prices in the analysed years made it possible to obtain a surplus of receipts over direct costs.

The research was carried out in the years 2015–2018 on the commercial plantations of a horticultural farm. The analysis focused on the yields of two raspberry cultivars: ‘Polana’ and ‘Polka’, factoring in the influence of cultivation methods (in the ground; in the beds with an agrotextile), soil classes (IIIa; IVb), and plantation age (2–5 and 6–10 years). The commercial yields of fruit intended for processing were determined. The economic efficiency analysis of the production of both varieties was carried out. It was shown that regardless of the factor under scrutiny, higher results (in t·ha–1) were obtained from the ‘Polana’ variety. There were differences in the yields of the two varieties depending on the factors. In the case of both varieties, higher results were obtained in traditional cultivation and in class IIIa soil. The plantation age caused only slight differences in the yields of both varieties. The analyses showed statistical significance only in the case of the impact of the cultivation method on the yields of the ‘Polana’ cultivar. Regardless of the variety, the value of production decreased year after year, which resulted mainly from the downward trend in raspberry prices.

The aim of the research was to evaluate the production and economic efficiency of the cultivation of three strawberry varieties depending on the two cultivation methods used (organic and conventional). The research was conducted in 2018–2020 in eight horticultural farms cultivating strawberries for processing purposes in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. The analysis of the production efficiency was based on the obtained levels of yields, while the analysis of the economic efficiency was carried out using selected measures, i.e. the production value, direct surplus, net income and the production profitability index. The research revealed that, generally higher yields in the analysed farms were obtained on plantations managed using the organic method than on those based on the conventional one. Moreover, irrespective of the production method, the highest yields were obtained in the first year and the lowest in the last year of harvests. Also irrespective of the production method, higher yields were obtained from the cultivation of the Dipred variety compared to the other varieties. The overall production costs, due to a significant share of labour and plant protection costs, were higher in the organic farms than in the conventional ones. In addition, the economic efficiency of organic crops was higher than or comparable to conventional ones, which was mainly influenced by higher fruit sales prices and higher yields.

Artykuł zawiera analizę zmienności powierzchni, zbiorów i cen skupu wybranych gatunków owoców jagodowych w Polsce i na świecie w latach 1992-2015. Analizę zmienności przeprowadzono wykorzystując podstawowe mierniki statystyczne, takie jak: obszar zmienności, odchylenie standardowe, współczynnik zmienności. Kierunek i dynamikę zmian cen określono na podstawie tendencji oraz indeksów jednopodstawowych. Analiza danych empirycznych wykazała, że ceny skupu wszystkich analizowanych gatunków rosły w latach 1992-2015, ale największą zmiennością odznaczały się ceny skupu truskawki i czarnej porzeczki.

Organic agriculture is a production system based on environmentally friendly practices that promote the conservation of natural resources, biodiversity, and the production of high-quality food. Its tenets are linked to the concept of sustainable development, which integrates environmental, social, and economic goals. In the face of global competition and changes in food systems, studying their competitiveness of organic agriculture is essential. It is key to assessing its potential for long-term development and competition with conventional agriculture. The purpose of this study is to identify and assess the spatial differentiation in the competitiveness of organic agriculture in EU countries. This study assessed the level of input and output competitiveness of organic agriculture in selected EU countries using the author’s synthetic taxonomic indicators consisting of several sub-variables. The competitiveness of organic farming in twenty-three countries (Cyprus, Latvia, Portugal, and Finland were not included due to a lack of statistical data) was analysed using one of the linear ordering methods, i.e., a non-pattern method with a system of fixed weights. The research has shown significant spatial differentiation in both the input competitiveness and the outcome competitiveness of organic agriculture in EU countries. In 2023, Estonia had the highest level of input competitiveness, followed by Austria, the Czech Republic, and Sweden. In 2023, Estonia had the highest synthetic indicator of outcome competitiveness, followed by The Netherlands and Denmark. In addition, an assessment was made of changes in EU organic agriculture in 2014–2023 by analysing the direction and dynamics of changes in selected measures of the development potential of organic agriculture in all member states (27 countries). This sector is characterised by high growth dynamics, including both the area under cultivation and the number of producers and processors of organic food. This study identified several important measures to support the development of organic farming (especially in countries where this type of activity is relatively less competitive) through targeted support mechanisms, such as policy and regulatory measures, financing, agricultural training and advisory services, scientific research, encouraging cooperation, and stimulating demand for organic products.