The aim of this study was to investigate the preferences of young adults in the Polish apple market in response to the declining consumption of these fruits. To address the research questions, a study was conducted among young adults using a custom-designed online questionnaire. The research sample consisted of 729 participants. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, and due to the nature of the data, Wilcoxon tests were also employed to examine differences. The most frequently purchased fruits among young adults were bananas and apples; however, strawberries and raspberries were the most favored. The most preferred apple cultivars were bicolored (e.g., Jonagored) and red (e.g., Gala Royal), while yellow cultivars (e.g., Golden Delicious) were perceived as the least attractive. Young consumers favored apples that were juicy, firm, and moderately sweet. This study demonstrated that the skin color of an apple was associated with expectations regarding its firmness and sweetness. Apples with intense coloration (dark red and green) received the highest valuations, particularly when organically grown. In contrast, apples from conventional production systems were valued below their market price by young consumers, indicating the need for strategies aimed at enhancing their perceived value.

This study examines the potential implications of the EU–Mercosur free trade agreement for the Polish horticultural sector, with particular emphasis on sustainability, trade competitiveness, and structural complementarities between the regions. Drawing on production, trade, and demographic data for the EU, Poland, and Mercosur countries, the analysis evaluates the alignment of horticultural supply and demand structures, the degree of intra-industry exchange, and the economic conditions shaping bilateral trade. The research applies the Grubel–Lloyd index and a Poisson Pseudo-Maximum Likelihood (PPML) gravity model to assess the determinants of Poland’s horticultural exports to Mercosur. The results indicate that trade remains predominantly inter-industry, reflecting substantial differences in agricultural specialisation and regulatory frameworks. At the same time, rising income levels in Mercosur, together with selected product-level complementarities, indicate emerging export opportunities for Poland. Poland’s trade with the Southern Common Market remains mainly as inter-industry, with the greatest export potential concentrated in high-value-added processed goods. Divergent sustainability standards, particularly in pesticide use, environmental regulation, and carbon-intensive transport, pose structural challenges that may affect the competitiveness and environmental footprint of expanded trade. Overall, the findings provide evidence that closer integration with Mercosur may support export diversification, but requires careful alignment with the EU’s sustainability objectives to ensure resilient and environmentally responsible development of the horticultural sector.

The aim of the article is to present changes in the production of organic fruits and vegetables in Poland and selected European Union countries between 2017 and 2024, as well as to characterize organic farms receiving support under the CAP 2023-2027 framework. The study was undertaken due to the growing importance of organic production in achieving the environmental and climate objectives of the European Union, as well as the need to identify development directions for organic horticultural production in Poland. The research was based on secondary data concerning the production of organic fruits and vegetables in Poland (IJHARS) and the European Union (Eurostat), as well as data on farms receiving support under the CAP 2023-2027 scheme (ARiMR). The analysis indicates that Poland holds a significant position in the production of organic fruits and vegetables within the European Union. Between 2017 and 2024, organic horticultural production in Poland showed an overall upward trend, although considerable year-to-year fluctuations were observed. The production structure was characterized by a clear spatial concentration of vegetable cultivation in the northern part of the country, while fruit production was concentrated in the main fruit-growing regions of Poland, particularly in the Mazowieckie and Lubelskie voivodeships. The results also indicate the growing importance of vegetable farms among beneficiaries of organic farming support, as well as the increasing regional specialization of organic production. Farms specializing in vegetable production and operating on a relatively large scale constituted the dominant group among supported holdings.