Polish farmers seek aid as frosts drive up strawberry prices and strain grain, rapeseed crops

Winter and spring frosts, followed by strong winds and heavy rain, have damaged Polish strawberry fields, raising wholesale basket prices to 50‑60 zł per 2 kg – about 25 % above last year. Growers such as Kamila Stawińska of Pietrowice Małe report severe plant stress and reduced yields, while promoting pick‑your‑own sales to keep prices affordable for consumers.

Agriculture Minister Stefan Krajewski announced that the government will request emergency EU assistance and allocate national funds to compensate fruit growers for the losses. He outlined both short‑term indemnities per hectare and longer‑term measures such as insurance reform and protective installations.

At a parliamentary agriculture commission, growers from the Polish Fruit Growers’ Association and representatives of the NSZZ Rolników Indywidualnych argued that relief should also cover field crops. They cite 30‑40 % losses in rapeseed and winter cereals due to the same frosts and a concurrent drought, warning that the current aid discussion focuses too narrowly on orchards.

Separately, grain market analysts report rising wheat and corn prices across Poland, driven by higher energy and fertilizer costs linked to the war in the Middle East, lower EU wheat forecasts, and reduced US production. These price pressures add urgency to calls for broader agricultural support.

The combined impact of weather‑related crop damage and rising commodity prices is prompting a coordinated response from growers, the Ministry of Agriculture, and EU institutions.