Russian cucumbers flood the Polish market. Polish farmers concerned
According to Eurostat data provided by Farmer.pl, in January 2025, the import of agri-food products from Russia fell by 79 percent. Compared to 2024, however, this does not apply to all products in this segment. According to Ria Nowosti, the Russian state news agency, in March Russia increased export to the highest level in four years. According to official data, in early spring Polish companies purchased 2.1 thousand. tons worth EUR 2.7 million, or 2.5 times more than exports in February and a quarter than in March last year.
Problem with cucumbers. Russia floods us with its vegetables
According to the data provided by Ria Nowosti, Russia is the main supplier of cucumbers to Poland, satisfying 83 percent. imported needs of our country. Other countries from which we import cucumbers are Türkiye, Belarus and Ukraine. Poland is to be the main importer of Russian cucumbers in the European Union. Farmer.pl reports that in connection with this influx of action, controllers of the Commercial Quality Inspection of Agricultural and Food Articles started, who also confirmed that the import of cucumbers from Russia in the first quarter of this year « was significantly higher in relation to the same period in the previous year ». The inspection ensures that all inspected cucumber parts met requirements.
More and more Russian cucumbers in the European Union
Such a large influx of Russian cucumbers worries not only Polish farmers. RMF reports that Latvians also have concerns that vegetables after passing control in Poland can then be sold in other EU countries, including Latvia. Farmer.pl indicates that Latvian producers point out that goods from the country of aggressor still go to European markets without any formal restrictions and without transparent marking of the country of origin, which allows you to change information about their source.
It is absurd that we are debating help for Ukraine, while Russian food moves freely around Europe
– said Jānis Bušs, head of the Baltic Vegetables cooperative, quoted by the Farmer.pl website.
Polish cucumber producers depressed
Polish cucumber producers are in favor of introducing in this situation an embargo for Russian cucumbers.
The decision on this matter may be made within the next month or two. In our opinion, with the outbreak of war and a political decision to support Ukraine, the introduction of Russian products from the Polish market – including those coming to Poland through Belarus. A situation in which on the one hand we support Ukraine with our resources, and on the other we allow Russia and Belarus to sell products in Poland or their transit through our country to the European Union, is paradoxical
– says Łukasz Gwizdała, operational director of the Association of Tomato and Cucumber Producers under cover in an interview with O2.
He adds that the competition with the Russians is dishonest. – To grow tomatoes and cucumbers in our greenhouses, we must first warm them. For this purpose, we use it, which as a result of the war became much more expensive than before. The Russians have access to their own energy raw materials, and thus lower production costs. When they sell their products in Poland, we are dealing with unfair competition, because we have limited access to cheap energy – notes O2 interlocutor.
Łukasz Gwizdała emphasizes in this conversation another disturbing aspect. While buying cucumbers from Russia. It happens that products from Belarus or Russia do not have markings about the country of origin. Consumers are misled.
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Łukasz Woźnica / Newspix.pl
Russian cucumbers flood the Polish market (illustrative photo).
