Characteristics of the agrifood market:

In 2018, there were over 143.8 thousand farms in the Małopolska Region with the total area of cultivable land of almost 557.1 thousand ha, which constituted 3.8% of the total agricultural cultivable land in agricultural holdings in Poland. The average area of cultivable land per farm is 3.7 ha, whereas the average for Poland is 9.5 ha. In 2016, the gross value added worked out in Małopolska Region in section A according to PKD (agriculture with fisheries, hunting and forestry) amounted to PLN 1 702 million. What stands out are the products connected with the region „specialization centres”, i.e. vegetable and fruit production, which have been known for years. A relatively new, fast growing and appreciated branch of the Małopolska Region agriculture is vine growing and home wine production. In Małopolska Region, there are 934 organic farms (8. place in Poland). In recent years, the average size of an organic farm has increased from 7.5 ha in 2009 to 11.45 ha in 2017. The rate of business operated in the coutryside of Małopolska Region is above the national average, but it is very diversified locally. The highest entrepreneurship rate is observed in the poviats of Krakow and the Tatras. The major sector of industry in the Małopolska countryside is traditional crafts and folk art, which are very well-developed. One of the most important forms of diversification of income of the rural population are agritourism services, as the region has very favourable conditions for the development of tourism and agritourism on the national and European scale. Agricultural and food processing industry based on small, local, often family businesses is growing quickly in the Małopolska Region. The production and distribution of traditional and regional products is also developing effectively. By the end of July 2019, the List of Traditional Products included 220 special regional products from the Małopolska Region. In addition, 12 regional products are listed in the Register of Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indication.

Regional Products in Małopolska:

The European Union has a system of protection, identification and differentiation of agricultural products and food products representing high quality and special values. These products owe their uniqueness to a specific geographic origin or a traditional method of production. Manufacturers of regional and traditional products, apart from the right to protect the names of their products, may also place symbols testifying to product uniqueness on the packaging. Production of regional and traditional products supports development of rural areas by allowing the farmers to earn money in their own regions. It also enables diversification of agricultural activity and prevents depopulation of rural areas. Protected Geographical Indication means the name of the region or a specific location which is used to mark an agricultural or a food product whose quality, renown or other characteristic features may be ascribed to such geographic origin. Protected Designation of Origin is used to designate an agricultural product or a food product whose quality or characteristic features are, to a significant or exclusive degree, the merit of the geographic environment, consisting of natural and human factors; the production, processing and preparation of such products take place in a specific geographic area. Traditional Products are agricultural products, food products and spirits assigned for human consumption, whose quality or exceptional features and properties result from application of traditional methods of production, constituting an element of cultural heritage of the region in which they are produced. Traditional products, thanks to production recipes which have not changed for years, and which guarantee unique features and characteristics, may be included in the List of Traditional Products.

In Małopolska, products marked with the Protected Geographic Indication certificate include: Suska sechlońska plum (dried plum, Iwkowa, Łososina Dolna, Laskowa and Żegocina municipalities); Lisiecka sausage (Kraków region); Kraków pretzel; Łącko apples (Łącko municipality area, juices, apple preserves); Prądnik bread (Kraków region); Podhale lamb (lamb breeding in the Podhale region); Piaszczańska sausage; Galicia Garlic.

If You want to know more about agriculture, food and processing industry in Małopolska Region, read publication about it in our publications section.

Publication has been prepared as part of the implementation of the „Power up Your Business in Małopolska 2” project, sub-measure 3.3.1 of the Regional Operational Program of the Malopolska Region for the years 2014-2020.