Polish apple exporters seek larger foothold in Sweden and Finland
Polish officials and food traders are seeking to expand apple sales in Sweden and Finland, with protected-origin apples from Grójec at the center of the campaign. Poland’s fresh fruit and vegetable exports to both Nordic markets increased in value in 2025, although volume trends differed.
Poland steps up Nordic apple promotion
Polish agriculture officials, producer organizations and food distributors are seeking to increase sales of Polish apples and other fresh produce in Sweden and Finland. The initiative places particular emphasis on apples from the Grójec growing region, including Jabłka Grójeckie, which are protected under the European Union’s Protected Geographical Indication scheme.
Representatives of Swedish and Finnish food trading and distribution companies met Polish stakeholders on 25 September. Participants included Secretary of State Małgorzata Gromadzka, representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Polish Chamber of Commerce’s Promotion Center and the Sady Grójeckie Association, according to Kobieta w Sadzie.
The Polish side presented the scale of the country’s fruit and vegetable production and its processing base. Poland is the European Union’s third-largest fruit producer and its fourth-largest vegetable producer. In 2025, Polish fruit and vegetable exports were worth approximately €3.7 billion, representing more than 6% of the country’s total agri-food export value.
Export value rises in both markets
Poland’s fresh fruit and vegetable exports to Sweden reached €133.3 million in 2025, up from €112.2 million in 2024. Export volume increased more modestly, from 73,400 tonnes to 75,500 tonnes. The faster rise in value than in tonnage indicates a higher average value per unit across the broad product category, although the source did not provide apple-specific price or volume data.
Fresh fruit and vegetable shipments to Finland followed a different volume pattern. Their value rose to €35.8 million in 2025 from €30.4 million a year earlier, while volume declined from 28,400 tonnes to 27,800 tonnes. This combination likewise points to higher average shipment values, potentially reflecting product mix or pricing, but the available figures do not isolate either factor.
Apples occupy an important position in Polish deliveries to both countries. Poland also supplies significant quantities of frozen fruit and vegetables. The figures show that Sweden is the larger of the two destinations for Polish fresh produce, while Finland offers a smaller market whose import value from Poland is also growing.
Quality standards shape commercial prospects
Discussions with Nordic buyers covered pesticide-residue standards, food safety and EU protection mechanisms for regional products. These requirements are commercially important in markets where purchasing power is high but suppliers compete on quality, consistency and their ability to meet changing buyer expectations as well as on price.
Foreign representatives visited orchards, fruit farms, storage sites and preparation facilities during the program. They also met members of the Sady Grójeckie Association and local businesses. The visit formed part of BITE RIGHT! – European PGI Apples from Grojec, a program promoting Jabłka Grójeckie and building recognition for them in Sweden and Finland.
The campaign gives Polish exporters an opportunity to distinguish regional apples within a broader category that is already gaining sales value. Further expansion will depend on converting promotional activity and buyer visits into recurring distribution arrangements. The available trade data cover all fresh fruit and vegetables, so they demonstrate momentum in the wider category rather than a measured increase in apple sales alone.
