The 2025 Polish apple season has developed relatively well so far, says Jan Nowakowski, manager of Polish apple distributor Genesis Fresh: "The spring was early and generally favorable for flowering and fruit setting. While the weather has been somewhat inconsistent, our growers have maintained high agronomic standards, including crop protection, pruning, and thinning, which helped ensure healthy fruit development. Overall, orchard conditions are good, and we expect solid quality from most farms."
Weather always plays a decisive role, and according to Nowakowski, this year was no exception. "We had several nights of prolonged light frost in April and May. These were not catastrophic, but enough to cause damage, especially in early-blooming varieties. Based on updates from our growers and our own internal assessments, we estimate the national crop could be down 10–15% compared to last year. Red Jonaprince, Gala, and some early club varieties were most affected. Golden Delicious and Idared are in better shape and should deliver average to strong yields, both in volume and quality."
© Genesis Fresh
Polish growers have been shifting towards more popular varieties in recent years, leaving varieties als Idared and Ligol behind, Nowakowski explains: "There's a visible shift in varietal structure across our grower base. We see reduced interest in older varieties like Gloster, Idared, or Ligol, which are increasingly being replaced by modern strains of Gala, Red Delicious, and other selected varieties. Our group has actively supported this transition, encouraging replanting with high-color clones and varieties that meet the evolving expectations of European retailers. Gala continues to dominate new plantings due to its consistent export demand and versatility."
Other than new varieties, some of the apple growers are also investing in pear cultivation, to diversify the risk involved with apple production, Nowakowski explains. "There's been a modest, but noticeable uptick in pear cultivation among apple producers. A few of our growers have started experimenting with pears as a way to diversify risk and meet rising consumer interest in locally grown pears. While pears are still a small percentage of their total orchard acreage, this trend is growing slowly. However, we also see that the learning curve and infrastructure requirements are steeper, so adoption is gradual and still limited to more experienced or better-capitalized farms."
© Genesis Fresh
The rising costs of apples have also meant an opportunity for growers to invest in their own orchards, in order to offset some of the increased costs, Nowakowski says. "Our growers have faced significant cost increases, especially for fertilizer, fuel, packaging, and labor. To remain competitive, many of them have improved orchard management and invested in on-farm infrastructure like modern cold stores and sorting lines. As a distributor and grower, we've also focused on consolidating volumes and optimizing transport, which helps reduce unit costs. While price levels have improved for top-quality apples, the margin pressure remains, especially for growers with older orchards or those relying solely on the domestic market."
Overall, Nowakowski expects a good season ahead: "Looking ahead, we're cautiously optimistic about the 2025 season. Fruit sizing is progressing well, and quality appears promising in our lead varieties. Export planning is already underway, we're preparing early programs for Gala and expect strong interest in Golden and Red varieties. However, we're also closely monitoring labor availability, which remains a challenge across the sector. Increasingly, clients are asking about sustainability and certifications. GlobalG.A.P., GRASP, and residue monitoring are no longer optional for serious business. We believe the Polish sector is moving in the right direction, but continued investment in quality, traceability, and logistics will be key to maintaining our competitiveness," Nowakowski concludes.
For more information:
Jan Nowakowski
Genesis Fresh
Tel: +48 223 783 405
Email: [email protected]
