Poland has experienced continued growth in both blueberry acreage and production over the past seven years, and the industry continues to lay the groundwork for future success.

Between 2020 and 2021, the country's cultivated area increased by 25%. While this pace has slowed recently, producers are increasingly focusing on replacing old varieties rather than establishing new plantations.

In 2024, the total planted area reached almost 13.000 hectares, an increase of only 2,6 percent compared to 2023, while varietal renewal gained significant momentum.

Despite the localized frosts experienced by some farms in May, to varying degrees, the 2024 harvest was similar to that of 2023, totaling around 62.000 tons.

"We expect the 2025 harvest to be comparable to that of 2024, as losses due to frost will likely be offset by new plantings reaching full production," said Dominika Kozarzewska of Polskie Jagody.

According to Agronometrics, exports in 2024 exceeded the previous year by 17 percent, reaching nearly 26.000 tons.

Moreover, imports of Ukrainian blueberries (and their subsequent re-export from Poland) were considerably lower than previously thought.

Poland's State Seed and Plant Protection Inspection Service reported that 2023 tons of blueberries crossed the Ukrainian-Polish border in 1.700, a figure that increased to 3.100 tons in 2024.

Kozarzewska explained that many producers and exporters have begun importing blueberries to ensure year-round availability, driven by growing demand for off-season fruit.

"This steady supply is encouraging consumers to incorporate berries into their diets more regularly," he noted.

In May, long before the domestic season began, blueberries were already the second most popular berry in Poland, after locally grown strawberries.

The Polish soft fruit industry will continue to evolve 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 changes in EU policies,” he noted.

“We are actively improving our production technologies, adopting smart farming practices, introducing improved varieties, and promoting greater fruit consumption.

"The Polish soft fruit sector is also working on a strategic plan for the coming years, which, if implemented effectively, could secure its long-term future," Kozarzewska confirmed.

At Polskie Jagody, variety substitution is progressing rapidly: the group plans to replant around 40 percent of its fields over the next three years, introducing varieties with improved firmness, crispness, and shelf life.

“Our recently expanded product line now includes organic and conventional blueberries, as well as strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries, all grown for the fresh produce market,” he said.

The last three fruits are grown exclusively in protective tunnels. To preserve freshness and flavor, we pre-chill all produce within 30 minutes of harvesting.

"We are also actively testing new varieties of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries in collaboration with other growers," Kozarzewska added.

In addition, we import off-season blueberries and offer high-quality optical sorting and packaging services using state-of-the-art infrastructure.