Poland's blueberry cultivation spans over 12,000 hectares, with a year-on-year increase in plantation area. The country's production of blueberries reached 55,000 tons in 2022, with projections for 2023 set at 67,500 tons, marking it as the only berry segment witnessing growth amidst declines in strawberries, raspberries, currants, and gooseberries.
According to an article on agroberichtenbuitenland.nl, challenges such as high labor costs, labor shortages, limited fruit management options, occasional overproduction, and resulting low sales prices that fail to meet production costs, however, persist in the sector.
Despite these hurdles, the demand for blueberries in Poland is on the rise, with Kantar's research indicating a growth from 45% of the population consuming blueberries in 2020 to 56% in 2023. Sales channels for blueberries include direct sales from farms, pick-your-own systems, markets, and bazaars, with a significant portion still sold through intermediaries.
An increasing trend towards online sales and the relegation of lower quality produce to processing are also noted. Efforts to promote blueberry consumption in Poland have led to an average intake of 2 kg per person per year, surpassing consumption rates in the USA, the fruit's origin country. With 83% of households purchasing blueberries annually, Poland stands at a high consumption rate globally.
Source: agroberichtenbuitenland.nl