Dominika Kozarzewska of Polskie Jagody says the industry continues to develop its offering, focusing on improved quality, efficiency and sustainability
Poland has seen ongoing growth in both blueberry acreage and production over the past seven years, and the industry continues to lay the foundations for future success.
Between 2020 and 2021, the country’s planted area expanded by 25 per cent. While this pace has slowed recently, growers are increasingly focusing on replacing older varieties, instead of establishing new plantations.
In 2024, the total planted area reached nearly 13,000ha – an increase of just 2.6 per cent compared to 2023 – while varietal renewal gained significant traction.
Despite localised frost in May affecting some farms to varying degrees, the 2024 harvest matched that of 2023, totalling around 62,000 tonnes.
”We expect the 2025 harvest to be comparable to 2024, as any losses due to frost are likely to be offset by new plantings reaching full production,” said Dominika Kozarzewska of Polskie Jagody.
According to Agronometrics, exports in 2024 exceeded the previous year’s by 17 per cent, reaching nearly 26,000 tonnes.
In addition, imports of Ukrainian blueberries – and their subsequent re-export from Poland – were considerably lower than often perceived.
The Polish State Plant Health and Seed Inspection Service reported that 1,700 tonnes of blueberries crossed the Ukrainian-Polish border in 2023, rising to 3,100 tonnes in 2024.
Kozarzewska explained that many producers and exporters have begun importing blueberries to ensure year-round availability, driven by increasing demand for off-season fruit,
”This consistent supply is encouraging consumers to incorporate soft fruit into their diets more regularly,” she outlined.
”In May – well before the domestic season began – blueberries were already the second most popular berry in Poland, following locally grown strawberries.”
The Polish berry industry will continue evolving toward greater quality, efficiency, and sustainability, Kozarzewska continued.
”The key to long-term success lies in building resilience – both at the farm level and across the sector – in response to external challenges such as climate change, trade instability, and shifting EU policies,” she noted.
”We are actively enhancing our production technologies, adopting smart farming practices, introducing improved varieties, and promoting greater fruit consumption.
”The Polish berry sector is also working on a strategic plan for the coming years which, if implemented effectively, could secure its long-term future,” Kozarzewska confirmed.
Varietal replacement is progressing rapidly at Polskie Jagody, with the group planning to replant around 40 per cent of its fields within the next three years, introducing varieties with superior firmness, crunch, and shelf-life.
“Our recently expanded product line now includes both organic and conventional blueberries, as well as strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries – all grown for the fresh market,” she said.
”The latter three fruits are cultivated exclusively under protective tunnels. To preserve freshness and flavour, we pre-chill all produce within 30 minutes of harvest.
”We are also actively testing new varieties of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries in collaboration with other growers,” Kozarzewska added.
”Additionally, we import blueberries during the off-season and provide high-quality optical sorting and packing services using state-of-the-art infrastructure.”
