Shortage of field cucumbers drives prices up at Bronisze and Poznań
Polish wholesale markets are experiencing a severe shortage of field cucumbers in mid-July, pushing prices to record highs for the season.
At the Bronisze wholesale market near Warsaw, prices for field cucumbers (ogórki gruntowe) have surged to €2.3–2.5/kg (10–11 PLN/kg) as of 11–13 July 2026, a level usually seen only in early spring. The shortage is notable, with very limited availability reported across several days. The smallest lots of field cucumbers have reached €1.8–2.1/kg (8–9 PLN/kg) in recent days, reflecting daily fluctuations depending on the number of suppliers present.
For smooth cucumbers from under cover (ogórki gładkie spod osłon), wholesale prices at Bronisze have rebounded to about €1.4/kg (6 PLN/kg) after a period when prices fell as low as €0.35/kg (1.50 PLN/kg) due to oversupply caused by a heatwave in late June. In retail, smooth cucumbers are selling for up to €1.6/kg (7 PLN/kg). Bumpy cucumbers (brodawkowe) from under cover are trading at €0.9–1.2/kg (4–5 PLN/kg) with a slight downward trend compared to previous weeks, but prices remain higher than earlier in the season.
Other wholesale markets display significant regional price variation. At Poznań's Wielkopolska Gildia Rolno-Ogrodnicza, a 5-kg crate of field cucumbers costs €8.1–9.7 (35–42 PLN), or €1.6–1.9/kg. In Łódź (Zjazdowa market), field cucumber prices are lower, at €0.5–1.2/kg (2–5 PLN/kg), while at Lublin's Elizówka market, long domestic cucumbers are priced at €0.9–1.2/kg (4–5 PLN/kg) and short types at €0.7–1.0/kg (3–4.5 PLN/kg).
The current shortage of field cucumbers is attributed to recent cold nights and low light levels, which have slowed growth and delayed harvests. Earlier, a heatwave accelerated ripening and led to a glut of tunnel cucumbers, causing prices to collapse before the current shortage emerged. Supply remains unstable and highly sensitive to day-to-day weather and producer deliveries.
Demand for cucumbers remains steady, but limited supply—especially for field-grown types—continues to support elevated price levels on the Polish market.
Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker