Poland: Sour Cherry Harvest Down 50%, Supply Short, Prices Awaited

Polish sour cherry producers expect the 2026 harvest to be around half of last year's, with a two-week delay due to spring frosts and drought. As of mid-June, no official farm-gate or wholesale prices for Polish sour cherries have been reported.

Poland's sour cherry (wiśnia) sector is facing significantly reduced supply in the 2026 season. According to industry sources, the national harvest is expected to reach only about 50% of the 2025 volume, due to severe spring frosts, drought, and localized hailstorms. Producers in key regions such as Lubelskie, the Vistula valley, and Biała Rawska report particularly heavy losses, with many growers expecting yields at just half of last year’s level. Harvest is delayed by approximately two weeks compared to 2025, and as of 17 June, most fruit remains unripe and green on the trees.

The area under sour cherry cultivation in Poland in 2026 is reported at 19,614 hectares. The largest producing regions are Świętokrzyskie (5,741 ha), Mazowieckie (5,535 ha), Lubelskie (3,129 ha), Łódzkie (2,660 ha), and Wielkopolskie (1,474 ha). The leading producing municipality is Biała Rawska in Łódzkie with 898 ha, followed by Tarłów (668 ha) and Sadkowice (651 ha).

Trade activity on the Polish market remains limited as of mid-June, with no official farm-gate or wholesale prices for Polish sour cherries yet available. The delayed harvest and uncertainty over available volumes have caused buyers and processors to withhold price offers. Market participants are monitoring the situation in other major producing countries, especially Serbia and Hungary, where harvests are also expected to be well below average due to similar weather events.

International trade is expected to be affected by the overall lower supply in Central Europe. In 2025, Poland harvested 144,000 tonnes of sour cherries, but this year’s output is forecast to be much lower. The processing industry, which is the main buyer of Polish sour cherries, is preparing for reduced availability of raw material for frozen, juice, and concentrate production.

Serbian producers, reacting to the weak outlook in Poland and Hungary, have protested low farm-gate prices and are monitoring the Polish crop to assess potential market opportunities. Serbian grower organizations estimate Polish production losses at 50–55% in some regions.

Compiled from Polish trade press (2026-06-17)