Cherry prices lower, but relatively better.

The prices of domestic cherries in the Polish wholesale market are noticeably lower than a week ago. There is still visible pressure from imported cherries, especially cheap cherries brought in from outside the EU (such as Turkish or Moldovan cherries), but in recent days there has also been an increase in the supply of domestic fruits.

The chart above shows the change in the average price in a large wholesale market, reflecting the supply shift that occurred in the last week. It is possible that in the coming days, the prices of domestic cherries will decrease slightly. Currently, in the wholesale market, prices mostly range from 7.00 to 14.00 PLN/kg (1.62 to 3.23 EUR/kg), but there is a trend towards offers moving towards 8.00-10.00 PLN/kg (1.85-2.31 EUR/kg), even for the most sought-after varieties (such as Kordia) and larger calibers. Prices above 12.00 PLN/kg (2.77 EUR/kg) are becoming rarer.

However, our chart also shows that the average price of Polish cherries, despite recent adjustments, has improved relative to previous years. This season started earlier and everything in the market is happening faster and earlier, including the peak supply. Normally, the cherry market was just entering peak supply, and prices were significantly dropping. This year, the transition between June and July brought stabilization.

Even if prices do decrease further, they are not likely to go below 10.00 PLN/kg (2.31 EUR/kg) on average. This means that in the coming days, the average price will remain not only higher than the average of the previous five years but will also be exceptionally high compared to those seasons for at least a couple of days. If it stays above 10.50 PLN/kg (2.42 EUR/kg), it will remain at a record level even longer.

It is worth noting that this season, the prices of domestic cherries have been more stable than usual. The average price at the beginning of June is very similar to the current one. However, back then, this value was very bad news for the growers, whereas now it is good news.

Lastly, it should be mentioned that there is traditionally a lack of cherry processing in Poland. If the scale of cherry processing were larger, it would have a positive impact on fresh market prices. Unfortunately, cherry processing in Poland remains limited, with prices this year stable at 3.00-3.50 PLN/kg (0.69-0.81 EUR/kg).