Russian cucumbers still sold at Poland's Bronisze market, weaker batches go for 5 zloty per kg

Cucumbers imported from Russia are still being sold at the Bronisze wholesale market near Warsaw, Poland's capital. Two importers bring the goods to the market. It is not known how many shipments have already arrived. The matter is important for local cucumber growers, because imported produce can affect prices on the Polish market.

Quality and prices

The quality of the imported cucumbers is uneven, so prices vary depending on the condition of the goods. A single delivery can contain both better and weaker batches. Cucumbers that survived transport somewhat better and look good cost about 7 zloty per kilogram wholesale, close to the price of domestic produce. For weaker batches the price falls to as little as 5 zloty per kilogram, as importers try to find buyers for uncertain goods more quickly.

The source notes that a lower price does not always mean a better deal: a buyer should assess the specific batch rather than rely only on the price per kilogram. The publication also refers to an earlier case in which Russian cucumbers were stopped at the Polish border, with levels of pymetrozine, a pest-control substance, 5.5 times above the EU limit.

Impact on local growers

Local growers constantly fear the presence of Russian cucumbers, which may noticeably affect the prices of Polish produce. Without imports on the market, producers could expect somewhat higher prices, which would partly make up for the large fluctuations of previous months.

Greek cucumbers as well

Cucumbers from Greece have also appeared at Bronisze. They differ from local produce because each one is wrapped in foil. A 4.5 kg package costs 35 zloty, or about 7.78 zloty per kilogram. The price is close to that of Russian and Polish cucumbers, although this is a different type of product. Supply is growing, so local growers must compete on both quality and price.