In Polish orchards, environmental monitoring systems that would support agrotechnical decision-making have only recently been implemented. One of the pilots under the AgriDataValue project is the 17-hectare family orchard farm, located in the Lodz Heights Landscape Park, in the valley of the Mroga River, the municipality of Dmosin, Lodz province. Some of the harvested fruit is the basis for the production of juices at the “Wind Orchard” press, established in 2011.

Intensive development of fruit growing in this area began after the end of World War II. At that time, the Institute of Orchardery and Floriculture was established, which passed on the knowledge and experience in apple growing to local fruit growers. “Wind Orchard” owned by the family of Wiatr (in Polish “wiatr” means “wind”), refers to the region’s somewhat forgotten tradition of cold-pressing fruit juices, dating back to the first half of the 20th century. In such a process, the fruit must be fresh, whole, and healthy, which places high demands on orchard management. Among today’s technological solutions for agriculture, improving the efficiency of applied agrotechnical treatments, as well as the quantity and quality of yields, are systems for continuous monitoring of environmental parameters.

As part of the AgriDataValue project, environmental sensors measuring air temperature and humidity, rainfall, insolation, leaf moisture, wind speed and direction as well as soil sensors will be installed in the apple orchard located in the Kaleczew village. This system for monitoring environmental conditions, is expected to enable effective reactions and best decisions in the digital “Wind Orchard” management optimizing fruit production to the needs of its owners and the sales market.