Polish Food Day: a celebration of Polish flavours

Polish Food Day is a festival celebrated annually on  the 25th August, aimed at promoting Polish food and supporting local producers. The event was established in 2013 on the initiative of the National Promotional Program “Doceń polskie” (appreciate Polish produce) and falls during the harvest festival, when fresh, seasonal products reign on Polish tables.

Polish Food Day is celebrated throughout the country to remind consumers of the range of Polish food products. This is a great opportunity to draw attention to the high quality and variety of local products. By choosing products marked with the “Polish Product” or “Discover Good Food” symbols, consumers can be sure that they are choosing the highest quality goods, made from Polish produce.

Poland is an important food producer

Poland is the fourth largest food producer in Europe, after France, Germany and Spain, which makes us an important player on the European market. Many Polish products, such as apples, pears and plums, are at the forefront of global production. Polish Food Day is an excellent opportunity to highlight the successes of Polish agriculture and the food industry.

Exports of Polish food

Polish food plays an important role not only on the domestic market, but also on the international arena. Poland is a significant exporter of food to international markets. In 2023, the value of exports of Polish agri-food products amounted to EUR 51.8 billion (PLN 236.4 billion), which was an increase of 8.1% compared to 2022. Food exports from Poland accounted for 14.7% of the total value of Polish exports, which proves the growing importance of this sector for the country’s economy.

Exported products

Poland exports a wide range of food products both to the European Union countries and beyond.

We export to EU countries mainly meat (other than poultry) and its products to a value of (EUR 4.2 billion), poultry meat (EUR 3.1 billion), bread and bakery products (EUR 2.8 billion), fish and fish products (EUR 2.6 billion) and animal feed (EUR 2.4 billion).

We export to non-EU countries mainly wheat (EUR 1.2 billion), dairy products (EUR 1.1 billion), poultry meat (EUR 961 million), bread and bakery products (EUR 937 million) and chocolate and chocolate products (EUR 798 million).

The largest recipients of Polish food in 2023 were Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France and Italy. Polish Food Day is therefore a celebration of the export successes of Polish producers.

The organic food market in Poland

On the occasion of the Polish Food Day, it is also worth paying attention to the dynamically developing market of organic products in Poland. Interest in organic production in our country is growing, which is reflected in the growing number of certified farms and the area of land devoted to organic farming. Organic vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk and milk products are already available in most Polish shops. By choosing these products, consumers support farmers who provide produce with respect for the environment, without GMOs, as well as with the assurance of increased animal welfare. Organic products can be identified by the so-called ecoleaf – the logo of EU organic production on the packaging.

Promotion and labelling of Polish food

One of the main goals of the Polish Food Day is to promote products labelled with quality symbols. Labels such as “Polish Product” or “Discover Good Food” guarantee that these products meet high quality standards and made from Polish produce. More and more Polish products are also obtaining European certificates, such as the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), which further confirms their uniqueness.

Polish Food Day is not only a festival promoting Polish products, but also an opportunity to emphasize the role of Polish agriculture and the food industry in the country’s economy. Thanks to high quality, diversity and growing exports, Polish food is gaining recognition all over the world. The celebration of this day reminds us how important it is to support local producers and choose products that are not only tasty, but also friendly to the environment and the health of consumers.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development