Poland is among the largest apple producers in the world, supported by favourable temperate climate conditions and fertile soils. These conditions contribute to the juiciness and taste of Polish apples, which are cultivated on a wide scale across the country. Apples have a long history in Poland, introduced from Central Asia via Minor Asia, with the first orchards established by Cistercian monks in the 12th century. Over time, apples became deeply embedded in Polish food culture and are now considered a national fruit.
According to 2022 data from the FAO, Poland ranked fourth in global apple production, following China, Turkey, and the United States. Within the European Union, EUROSTAT reports that Poland leads in apple production, accounting for about 30% of the EU's total harvest and roughly 4% of global output.
Poland's main competitors in EU apple production include Italy, France, and Germany. Although these countries have higher yield efficiencies due to different varietal structures and management practices, Poland maintains the largest cultivation area. In recent years (2022–2023), Poland's apple orchards covered between 150,000 and 152,000 hectares. Apple harvests have exceeded 3 million tons annually since 2013, except in 2017 when adverse weather reduced output to 2.4 million tons. In 2023, the harvest was approximately 3.9 million tons, a 9% decrease from the previous year. Preliminary estimates for 2024 suggest a further decline to 3.2 million tons, down 17% year-on-year.
Apples dominate Poland's tree fruit harvest, accounting for 90% of the total between 2020 and 2023, up from 87% in the earlier 2010–2013 period. Their share in total fruit production also increased, from 73% to 79% over the same period.
Popular apple varieties grown in Poland include Idared, Jonagold, Champion, Ligol, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala, Gloster, Lobo, and Cortland. The highest concentration of production is found in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, particularly in the Grójecko-Warecki region, where modern orchards and processing facilities are established. Other significant regions include Łódzkie (16% of the national harvest), Świętokrzyskie (15%), and Lubelskie (9%).
Poland is also a major exporter of apples, with 817,000 tons exported in 2023. The EU remains the largest market, receiving 55–60% of total exports. Key destinations in 2023 included Germany (83,000 tons), Romania (71,000), Spain (39,000), the Netherlands (33,000), Hungary (32,000), France (32,000), and Sweden (29,000). Among non-EU countries, Egypt (62,000 tons), Kazakhstan (58,000), Belarus (36,000), and India (35,000) were the leading importers.
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Source: MLVVN