During our visit to Warsaw last week, we visited the Bronisze wholesale market and took pictures of the products and retailers. The atmosphere was excellent, although we attracted some strange looks. It was not too busy around 8 o'clock in the morning. The supply on the market was huge and it was striking that most vegetables came from domestic producers. Poland consumes lots of cabbage, tomatoes and apples, which were available in large volumes. There was also a lot of imports from Spain and overseas. Some products came from the Netherlands and Belgium, such as tomatoes, peppers and aubergines. Prices were quite low compared to the Netherlands. 1 zloty equals approximately 25 Eurocent.
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Bronisze Wholesale Market
A vast array of horticultural products from different countries are available in four large halls. In total, there are more than 200 traders within, and there are also growers that offer their own products outside. This is done quietly. The number varies by season and by product, but there is room for 1,000 traders in the peak season. There is a separate sub-market for soft fruit, apples and various vegetables. The market is open 24 hours a day, every day, except on Saturday, which is the cleaning day. Producers selling the same products are placed next to each other, so there are separate areas for apples, soft fruit, cabbages and various other fruits and vegetables.
We spoke with Kmera Maciej, who has worked at Bronisze for years. He said that a wide range of Polish products are available and that the quality is very high. "In addition to being a big top fruit producer, Poland also grows soft fruit, like blueberries. Additionally, many are specialised in growing tomatoes. Prices are low and competition high; nevertheless, many growers are here every day, even in the winter." He said that most people who live in Warsaw have quite a bit to spend with their western salaries, but outside the city, many Poles find it difficult to cope. People with high incomes spend lot on healthy products, but less affluent people tend to purchase cheaper products that are often unhealthy.
Prices
Remarkably high prices are currently being paid for bananas, of around 5 zlotys per kilo (about 1.25 Euro). Spanish iceberg lettuce stands at around 4 zlotys, which is also quite high, according to the market's representative. Tomato prices have heavily increased this weekend, reaching 15 zlotys (3.75 Euro) for a box. In contrast, radish prices are very low, of around 0.80 zloty (less than 20 Eurocent). White cabbage is sold for around 80 cents (zloty) and red cabbage costs slightly more, around 1.40 zlotys per kilo.