The situation at the chokeberry collection point has undergone a significant change.

In the first half of the current month, the price situation in the chokeberry segment purchased for processing was disastrous for the producers of this fruit. Prices dropped very drastically, especially compared to the expectations from the beginning of the campaign. They fell even though it was known from the beginning that we had a Roz with very poor chokeberry harvest in Poland (only 47,000 tons according to GUS estimates, which is 12 percent less compared to the 2023 harvest).

source: own elaboration based on GUS data

As seen in the chart, it was the worst harvest in four years and the third worst in the past decade. And yet, in mid-August, purchase prices dropped to levels lower than in the same period of the previous five years. This can be clearly seen on our second chart.

However, the chart also shows a significant qualitative change that has occurred in the chokeberry market in recent days. Purchase prices for this fruit started to rise and this increase not only held steady but transformed into a more sustainable upward trend. In about a week, aronia purchase prices increased by 39 percent as a result of this trend. Currently, the price range for chokeberry purchase is mostly between 1.00-1.50 PLN/kg (0.23-0.35 EUR/kg), with the lower end of this range still having potential for further increase.

As a result, we have seen a transition in the chokeberry market from the lowest prices in recent years to the highest prices in a short period of time. However, it seems that with the gradually improving demand among processors, the factor of low aronia fruit availability has started to become the dominant force in shaping purchase prices.