Polish farmers adopt self-service stands for direct potato sales

Small-scale farmers in Poland are implementing low-cost, self-service solutions to sell produce directly to consumers, bypassing traditional middlemen.

In eastern Wielkopolska, Julia Śmigielska-Siarkowska operates a 13-hectare farm where potatoes are sold via a simple roadside stand. The setup allows customers to purchase potatoes for 1 PLN per kg using cash or BLIK payments, with daily sales ranging from 20 to 100 kg.

Similarly, in the Podlasie region near Kruszyniany, 17-year-old Franciszek Perkowski and his father developed a handmade self-service point to sell larger quantities of potatoes. Leveraging local tourist traffic, the system relies on customer honesty; bags are labeled with weight and price, and payments are made via cash or BLIK. Perkowski reports a theft rate of less than 1 percent.