Poland is a large market with a population of almost 40 million and sixth-largest economy in European Union. California Prunes enjoys a great reputation in Poland and have strong potential in restaurant, food and retail sectors. The Polish consumer is keen to quality healthy foods and looking for those foods to contribute to a healthy lifestyle. California prunes are the perfect response for those needs.
Popular Uses
Prune usage in Poland is traditionally high for holiday seasons, however prunes have strong position in everyday menus – both home-cooked meals and fancy restaurants. Moreover prunes can be found in muesli and breakfast cereals. Among superfoods fans prunes are being used as a healthy addition to the diet. Prunes are also vastly use in food business such as confectionary, diary, meat etc.
Local Events
California Prune Board representative are present at most of the industry events in Poland both as a participant or as exhibitors. So far CPB in Poland was and exhibitor during following events, WorldFood Poland (2016 and 2019), Congressus Dietetica (2017 and 2018), 3rd Food Forum National Congress, 2017. In 2018 California Prune Board has joined the “America from the Kitchen” initiative coordinated by the Agricultural Department of the US Embassy in Warsaw. CPB is also regular organizing community meetings with local bloggers and journalist includes press events and cooking workshop led by Polish chefs.
Cultural Significance
Prunes has been known in Polish cuisine for hundreds of years. Southern parts of Poland are famous for plums cultivation. In the past traditional annual drying of plums at Polish countryside took place in late autumn and used to be very common. Fresh plums were dried in a bread oven or homemade smokehouses. The plums smoked in this way smelled of smoke. Dried/smoked prunes are still available in Poland, however smoked aftertaste is what make them different than sweet and meaty California prunes, which find more day to day usage among Polish consumers.