Discovering Masovian specialties: A SUMMIT 2024 farm visit

Discovering Masovian specialties: A SUMMIT 2024 farm visit

Following the conclusion of the core conference program at the GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2024 in Warsaw, almost 100 attendees participated in the farm visit program on 12 September. The first of the three tours offered to attendees was focused on specialties from the Masovia region, including Grojec apples and peppers. The visit was expertly led by Maciej Majewski of FreshMazovia, a GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member and host of the National Technical Working Group Poland.

Preserving the deep traditions of Grojec apples

The visits began at the 20-hectare apple orchard farm of Marcin Lis in Lasopole. Marcin, who is the fourth generation to operate the farm and also serves as Vice-President of the Sady Grójeckie Association, explained the current challenges and opportunities facing Polish producers in a local and international context. Issues discussed ranged from extreme heat and water stress to the challenges facing cooperatives and the development of new export markets.

He then displayed farming practices aimed at combating the effects of climate change in the region. These included the use of remote sensing technologies for soil and pest management, anti-frost and anti-hail crop protection nets, drip irrigation, and cold storage methods. As co-owner of the company GoTruck, Marcin also showcased an autonomous tractor system that assists with the site management in tasks such as spraying and mowing.

Apples have been grown in the Grojec region for more than 500 years, where they were a valued addition to royal dining tables. The first professional apple storage facility was established in 1918, followed by the founding of the Institute of Pomology and Floriculture, which became a model of scientific knowledge and innovation in apple cultivation.

Of the 27 varieties of Grojec apples, four are produced on Marcin Lis’ farm, with Gala representing the largest market share. The apples are distinguished by a 5% higher acidity and an intense color in comparison with similar varieties in other regions due to the unique soil and climatic conditions. They have been awarded Protected Geographic Indication (PGI) status by the EU that confirms the specific characteristics and production area of the product, as well as their certified responsible production processes.

This recognition is a source of pride for local producers, who preserve the traditions of Grojec apple growing in the region and now enjoy legal protection against unauthorized use of the product name.

Clearing the path to certification and training

The second stop of the tour included a visit to the headquarters of the independent consulting company FreshMazovia, where the company's activities were presented. Based in the town of Warka, they are the host of the GLOBALG.A.P. National Technical Working Group Poland.

With over 20 years of experience, FreshMazovia has become a key pillar in enabling producer access to certification, testing, and capacity building services such as training and finance. The company now works with over 620 individual producers and 1,050 members of producer groups in the region. All staff members on the Grower Team also come from local producer families – preserving a vital link to the Masovian farming community.

The company cooperates with laboratories to provide sampling and testing services and works with a network of more than 100 weather stations across the apple producing regions – supporting decision-making, for example in enabling the responsible and efficient use of plant protection products based on weather conditions. FreshMazovia also supports a range of research and development projects, including harvest robots and innovative plant fertilizers.

Cultivating the Masovian “red gold”

The farm visits then continued in Klwów, where attendees visited the 2.5-hectare covered pepper farm of Roman Sobczak, President of the Polska Papryka producer cooperative.

Located in one of Europe’s premier pepper producing regions, Roman explained the cultivation process within the climate-controlled, double-layer tunnels which offer an extended vegetation period. This allows production to continue for an additional two months, in turn also securing a higher price for the produce.

The Polska Papryka group hold GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) certification for all fruit and vegetables produced on their farms, including products such as peppers, string beans, Chinese cabbage, zucchini, eggplant, and rhubarb.

The tour was also marked by a visit from a local politician and Member of Parliament, who talked about the history of the region in pepper production and fielded questions from attendees.

View from the field

We thank Maciej Majewski for his expertise and guidance during the tour, and also extend our appreciation to producers Marcin Lis and Roman Sobczak for sharing their on-the-ground knowledge and experiences with SUMMIT attendees.

For more images and videos from all three farm visits conducted as part of the SUMMIT 2024 program, please follow the GLOBALG.A.P. LinkedIn page.