Bronisze: Heatwave Drives Young Potato Sell-Off, Prices Drop to €0.67/kg
A heatwave in late June triggered rapid sell-offs of young potatoes at the Bronisze wholesale market, with prices for some varieties dropping sharply to €0.67/kg. Domestic supply is high, but imports from Egypt and Cyprus remain present, meeting niche consumer demand.
At the Bronisze wholesale market near Warsaw, the end of June saw a significant increase in the supply of young Polish potatoes, especially varieties with yellow flesh such as Riviera. On 25–26 June 2026, emergency sales due to high temperatures led to prices as low as €0.67/kg (10 PLN per 15 kg sack) for yellow-fleshed young potatoes. These low prices were observed for rapid sales, while the standard market price for the Irga variety remained higher at about €0.47/kg (2.00 PLN/kg). Yellow-fleshed varieties like Arrow and Riviera were priced just below this level, but the gap between varieties had narrowed compared to previous weeks.
Despite the domestic supply surge, imported young potatoes from Egypt and Cyprus were still available at Bronisze in late June, selling for €0.47–0.58/kg (2.00–2.50 PLN/kg). These imports cater mainly to buyers seeking firmer tubers, as domestic young potatoes tend to be more delicate. Additionally, small volumes of stored potatoes from the previous season, mostly from the Netherlands and Belgium, remained on offer at around €0.22/kg (0.93 PLN/kg for 15 kg sacks).
Polish farm-gate potato supply is shaped by a notable reduction in cultivated area. For the 2026 season, 185,120 hectares were registered for potato cultivation, down from the 2025 peak of 210,761 hectares. The largest production areas are in the Wielkopolskie region (28,300 ha). The current area is close to average levels from 2020–2023, after a temporary spike in the previous two years due to crop rotation and economic considerations.
Demand at wholesale markets has been affected by the heatwave. Trading hours have shortened as both growers and buyers avoid activity during peak daytime temperatures. The heat has also accelerated sales, as producers seek to avoid quality losses during storage. Wholesalers with cold storage are playing an increasing role in the market.
The market for stored domestic potatoes is minimal at this stage, with prices for last year's white-fleshed potatoes reaching up to €0.15/kg (0.66 PLN/kg for 15 kg sacks), and even less for yellow-fleshed types. Imported stored potatoes command higher prices than domestic stock, but their market relevance is declining as the domestic harvest progresses.
Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker