Polish Plums: Retail Chains Resume Domestic Buying, Wholesale Prices Drop
Major retail chains in Poland have resumed purchasing domestic plums after a period dominated by imported fruit, leading to increased supply on wholesale markets and falling prices for growers.
On the Bronisze wholesale market near Warsaw, plum prices on 7 August 2026 ranged from €0.5–0.9/kg (2–4 PLN/kg) for general varieties, €0.5–0.8/kg (2.2–3.5 PLN/kg) for Hungarian-type plums, and €1.2–1.6/kg (5–7 PLN/kg) for large-fruited varieties. In the Grójec region, farm-gate prices for purple plums over 35 mm diameter were reported at €0.5/kg (2.00 PLN/kg) in early August, with similar levels in the Szydłów area, though both growers and buyers noted a downward trend. Some growers supplying Dino supermarkets reported offers as low as €0.3/kg (1.30 PLN/kg), while others supplying the same chain cited purchase prices between €0.3–0.4/kg (1.30–1.50 PLN/kg). Retail promotional prices at Dino for domestic plums from 5 to 11 August stood at €0.9/kg (3.99 PLN/kg), representing the lowest consumer offer on the market this week but reflecting the pressure on producer prices.
Large retail chains initially relied on imported plums, especially from Serbia and Bosnia, during the early peak of the domestic Lepotica harvest in late July and early August. Only from 6 August did Biedronka, Poland's largest supermarket chain, officially launch domestic plum sales, after nearly two weeks of predominant imports. In the 2025 season, 94.75% of the 15,000 tonnes of plums sold by Biedronka originated from Polish orchards; this year, the chain announced renewed focus on domestic sourcing after the price drop.
Due to the initial reluctance of major retailers to purchase Polish plums, significant volumes were redirected to wholesale markets, causing a build-up of stock and making bulk sales of the Lepotica variety nearly impossible in recent days. Some suppliers to Biedronka also reported large returns of unsold fruit from distribution centers, attributed both to quality issues following recent heatwaves and to market oversupply.
The Central Statistical Office (GUS) estimates a 4% year-on-year decrease in Poland's total plum harvest in 2026, but the supply on the market remains high due to the concentration of unsold volumes. Demand from buyers has been slow, with trade described as sluggish and sales opportunities limited, especially for larger quantities.
The recent heatwave negatively affected the quality of some plum varieties, particularly Lepotica, contributing to higher rejection rates and returns from retail distribution centers.
Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker · Illustrative image generated by AI