Citrus has been a main staple for Polish households during the holidays in December for over forty years, says Marek Leżyński, sales manager for Fresh Factory, who handles the import for the company and has a strong focus on the Greek market:
"Demand is moderate right now; it's the typical calm before the storm. The peak comes in December, when Poland enters its citrus boom. Citrus fruit is part of a holiday tradition dating back to the 1980s/90s, when it was available mainly around Christmas. To this day, mandarins and oranges are symbols of that period in many homes. Operationally, we see steady interest in Greek oranges and mandarins in the autumn–winter season thanks to their freshness and flavour profile. Working daily with Polish retailers and wholesalers, I can say that entering the season with the right sizes and consistent quality makes demand ramp up very quickly."
© Fresh Factory
According to Leżyński, Poland has imported more and more fruits from Greece over the past few years. "Imports from Greece have grown in recent years, after a brief slowdown a few seasons ago. We expect the level to remain high this campaign. Final volumes will depend on harvest progress and availability, especially for early varieties, but current market signals suggest the start will be about a week earlier than it was in 2024."
Leżyński states that the post-harvest handling of citrus in Greece has seen significant improvements, making the Greek fruits even more popular among Polish consumers: "Greek citrus resonates with Polish consumers because it combines sweet, juicy flavour and a distinct aroma with very good freshness. The shorter route to Poland means fewer days in transit and better conditions on arrival. Producers in Greece have notably improved sorting and selection, which results in uniform, predictable lots. They're also flexible with packaging and labelling to meet buyer requirements, which makes rollout to shelf quicker."
© Fresh Factory
Next to convenience, there is also a trend towards citrus from Egypt late in the season, Leżyński explains. "A few steady trends are visible. Mandarins and clementines keep gaining popularity, mainly due to convenience and ease of peeling. Availability is increasingly year-round, with supply diversified across both hemispheres. Late-season oranges from Egypt are taking a larger share toward the end of the European season. Consistency also matters more than ever: even lots, predictable sizes, and stable quality make sales planning easier."
"The 2025/26 season may bring slightly lower yields in some regions, while fruit size is expected to be larger, thanks to rains at the turn of September and October. The first Greek citrus should reach the market in late October or early November. On my side, I'm ready for the start: over recent weeks, I've had dozens of conversations with producers, by phone and at trade fairs, to discuss entry scenarios and size availability. I don't overpromise, but I know who I can rely on. Long-standing relationships, often close to friendship, usually translate into repeat loadings with predictable quality. Thanks to that, I can move quickly with initial shipments once the first lots are confirmed," Leżyński concludes.
For more information:
Marek Leżyński
Fresh Factory
Tel: +48 532 400 620
[email protected]
www.freshfactory.pl
