Poland has a strong position in fruit production. This was once again evident at TSW, the country's largest trade fair for agriculture and horticulture.
For many years, Dutch propagators of soft fruit plants have supplied planting material to Polish growers. Several tree nurseries also entered the Polish market some time ago, for example with rootstocks. In some cases, these activities began as early as 20 years ago. At the time, the market was still developing, but Polish growers have since become accustomed to using Dutch-propagated material, supported by local advisers. Today, plants propagated in the Netherlands are planted in Polish orchards or delivered to sorting facilities, after which the rootstocks may be sent back to the Netherlands for sale.
Large area, still a lot of soil-bound
Poland has a large soft fruit acreage. Many crops are still grown in soil and in open fields. According to discussions at the trade fair, cultivation systems generally become more traditional further east in the country.
A Dutch propagator attending the exhibition referred to Poland's strawberry acreage, which is estimated at around 26,000 hectares. Such a figure explains the strong presence of propagation companies at TSW. The Polish market is competitive, with numerous Dutch suppliers, Italian companies, and around five domestic propagators active in the sector.
Many Dutch companies have been operating in Poland for years, often in cooperation with Polish partners. These partnerships help overcome language barriers and support the development of local service networks. In some cases, these relationships are so well established that exhibitors question whether participation in TSW remains necessary, as business contacts are already in place and trade flows continue steadily.
Compared to several years ago, Poland's strawberry acreage has declined. Official figures previously indicated around 30,000 hectares. As in other countries, Polish growers face challenges related to labour availability, energy costs, generational change and climate conditions. As a result, more producers are shifting from traditional soil-based cultivation to substrate systems.
The reduction is particularly evident in outdoor production. Smaller growers are under increasing pressure. According to a Polish dealer representing Dutch plant material, operations with less than 10 hectares find it increasingly difficult to remain profitable.
Switch from other cultivation
New entrants are also visible in the strawberry sector. There are examples of tomato growers switching to strawberry production. One of the main advantages cited is that strawberries require less heat than tomatoes, resulting in lower energy consumption. In addition, strawberry prices are generally higher than those for tomatoes.
Elsewhere, it was reported that some apple growers are considering a transition to growing strawberries in elevated systems. In Poland, glass greenhouses remain relatively limited in number, except in the tomato sector, where operations are becoming increasingly large-scale and consolidation is clearly visible.
Tray plants
Most strawberry growers in Poland still choose frigo plants, but there is also a gradual increase in demand for tray plants. The cultivation of remontant strawberries is also on the rise. These developments, including among Polish growers, are prompting propagators to look for additional space to expand their tray fields or greenhouse capacity. A small number of companies already propagate plants in Poland, or have done so in the past. However, most suppliers continue to propagate their plants in the Netherlands and export them to the Polish market.
Ukraine
Ukraine has also been an important market for exhibitors at TSW. Companies traditionally conducted significant business with Ukrainian growers at the event. However, the war has disrupted these activities. A limited number of Ukrainian companies continue to attend the trade fair, while growers in the country face serious challenges, including major disruptions to energy supply. "That makes cultivation difficult," one plant grower remarked.
Raspberries are another major crop within Poland's fruit sector. Plant nurseries, including suppliers from the Netherlands, provide planting material for this crop as well. Polish raspberries are sold on the fresh market or processed and exported as frozen products to end customers.
TSW also hosted a raspberry congress alongside the strawberry congress. The raspberry event was conducted in Polish, making it less accessible to international visitors. While the strawberry congress focused primarily on cultivation practices, the raspberry programme also addressed marketing and sales-related topics.
