Farmers in Poland are increasingly inviting consumers to pick fruits and vegetables directly from their fields due to difficulties selling produce, according to onet.pl. Many have resorted to giving away products for free or on a "pay what you can" basis.
The situation gained attention after a farmer in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship harvested 11 tons of plums, but the buyer suddenly refused to take them. To avoid losses, the farmer announced that people could collect the plums for free. The offer spread quickly through social media, drawing large numbers of visitors who also left voluntary payments, helping the farmer recover some costs.
In Zamostye, in the Lublin Voivodeship, a similar case was reported on a 30-hectare tomato farm managed by a family couple. Due to a cold summer, the harvest ripened late, and some tomatoes remained unpicked. Processing plants could only accept one truckload per day, and labour costs for harvesting were high. The farmers, therefore, invited people to pick the tomatoes themselves and pay as they wished.
Consumers have been willing to travel long distances to buy produce at lower prices while also supporting growers.
Farmers report that purchase prices this season are low. Growers are offered between 0.30 and 0.50 zlotys (US$0.07–US$0.12) per kilogram of peppers, while retail prices reach 10–12 zlotys (US$2.30–US$2.75) per kilogram. The large price gap leaves producers unable to cover production costs.
Processing plants have also reduced their intake volumes, often because they have purchased semi-finished products from Ukraine or Egypt.
In addition, the Polish produce market largely operates on verbal agreements, and farmers say payments are often delayed for months, including from large retail chains.
Source: AgroNews
