Polish sour cherry harvest delayed two weeks, 2026 yields seen at ~50% of last year

The 2026 sour cherry harvest in Poland is delayed by about two weeks, with national yields expected to reach only around 50% of last year's levels due to spring frosts, drought, and local hail.

Wholesale and farm-gate prices for Polish sour cherries (wiśnie) have not yet been established for the 2026 season as of mid-June, with trade participants awaiting the start of the main harvest and observing regional supply conditions. Market uncertainty is heightened by the delayed harvest and sharp yield reductions, especially in major production regions along the Vistula, Lubelskie, and Biała Rawska.

Industry sources indicate that the 2026 harvest will be about two weeks later than in 2025, with the first significant quantities expected only at the end of June or early July. Early varieties are still green or at the pit-size stage. The total national yield is provisionally estimated at only 50% of last year's, with the most severe losses in Lubelskie, the Vistula valley, and Biała Rawska. In 2025, Poland harvested 144,000 tons of sour cherries; this year, output may fall to approximately 70,000–75,000 tons.

The area under sour cherry cultivation in Poland in 2026 is 19,613.67 hectares, with leading voivodships including Świętokrzyskie (5,741 ha), Mazowieckie (5,535 ha), and Lubelskie (3,129 ha). The largest single municipality for sour cherry orchards is Biała Rawska (898 ha), followed by Tarłów (668 ha) and Sadkowice (651 ha). Major production clusters are also found in powiat rawski (1,963 ha), opatowski (1,794 ha), sandomierski (3,389 ha), and grójecki (2,329 ha).

Trade dynamics are influenced by developments in other major European producing countries. Hungary expects a harvest of only 30,000 tons (down 20–30% from 2025), while Serbia is entering the season with good crop potential but uncertainty around purchase prices. In 2025, record low yields in Hungary and Poland contributed to unprecedented prices for processed cherries in Europe. Serbian growers have called a 48-hour harvest boycott until purchase prices are announced, with expectations of at least 7–8.5 PLN/kg (200 dinars/2 EUR per kg).

Recent weather events in Poland have included not only spring frosts and drought but also local hailstorms and heavy rain, further affecting fruit quality and availability. Market participants continue to monitor the situation in Serbia and Hungary for potential impacts on trade flows and price formation in the Polish market.

Compiled from Polish trade press (2026-06-16)