Poland’s Fruit Harvest Slumps Sharply, Prices Plunge and Competition Probe Launched

The Central Statistical Office (GUS) projects a steep decline in Poland’s 2026 fruit harvest. Apple output is expected to fall about 19.5 % year‑on‑year, while cherries, plums and pears are set to drop 16.6 %, 4.1 % and 14.4 % respectively. Berries are hit hardest: raspberry production is forecast to shrink 23 % and strawberries 6.2 %. Overall fruit‑tree yields are projected down 18.6 % and shrub‑fruit yields 6.5 %. The reduced harvest has already affected market prices. Cherry growers report wholesale prices for frozen cherries falling to roughly 4 zł per kilogram, with juice‑grade fruit selling for half that, prompting the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) to open an investigation into possible anti‑competitive practices. The GUS data also notes modest growth in some berry varieties, such as a 4.4 % rise in total currant production, but the dominant trend is a sharp contraction across most fruit categories due to spring frosts, summer heatwaves and drought conditions.