In Poland, a new season of selling domestic plums has begun.

Much earlier than usual, especially compared to last year, the season for native plums in Poland has started. The first batches of the early variety Herman have appeared on the market. Has this early start to this year's season brought higher prices - the customary premium for pioneers?

Unfortunately, not this time. Polish plums are entering a market flooded with imported plums, including those from outside the EU. And their prices are affecting the price levels of the domestic produce. Significant amounts of plums from Serbia (Cacanska Rana) are reaching Poland, and imports from Moldova have also begun.

The first, small batches of Polish plums of the Herman variety had wholesale prices ranging from 5.00-7.00 PLN/kg. Now it is already 4.00-6.00 PLN/kg. While this may not be exceptionally low quality-wise, it is not significantly higher either for the start of the season at the end of June and July. Last year, the prices of these plums in wholesale (at the start of the season, i.e., in the second half of July) were at an average level of 5.00 PLN/kg. Two years ago, in mid-July, the season started with an average price of 6.00 PLN/kg.

Both in the 2022 season and in 2023, wholesale plum prices quickly dropped. In the first few days of the previous season, there was a drop of about 40 percent. Two years ago, prices plummeted by half in no time as well, due to strong competition from imported plums. Will we face a similar scenario in the current season, just shifted in time?