The EU's total fruit harvest fell by 2% in 2024 to 24.3 million tons, according to Eurostat. Italy, Spain, and Poland together accounted for 57% of the bloc's fruit production.
Poland harvested 4.1 million tons of fruit in 2024, of which more than three-quarters were apples. The country supplied 29% of the EU's total apple harvest, equal to about 4% of global production.
Despite this, Polish farmers have faced weaker harvests in recent years. The 2024 apple crop was estimated at 17% lower than 2023, which itself had been 9% lower than the previous year, according to Fresh Plaza. Across the EU, apple production stood at 11.6 million tons, down 4% from 2023. After Poland, Italy contributed 21% of EU apple output, followed by France with 17%.
Poland maintains its leading role largely due to the scale of cultivation. Over 150,000 hectares are planted with apple orchards, according to Fresh Plaza, even though Western European producers use more efficient cultivation methods. Apples make up over 90% of Poland's orchard output and more than 75% of its total fruit production.
The Food and Agriculture Organization lists Poland as the world's fourth-largest apple producer, after China, Turkey, and the United States. Apples also remain an important export product. In 2023, Poland exported over 800,000 tons, with 55–60% shipped to EU markets.
Source: TVP World
