Instead of ploughing under three hectares of peppers, a farmer from near Lublin, Tomasz Jachacz, invites people to take the vegetables for free. Why did he make this decision, and what does it say about the state of Polish agriculture?
Why the farmer is giving away peppers for free
This year’s season proved exceptionally difficult for vegetable growers. Buyers paid only PLN 1.50 per kilogram of peppers, often even less, which made growing them unprofitable. For Tomasz Jachacz from Zemborzyce Wojciechowskie, the cost of harvesting and processing exceeded any potential profit. As he explains, he would have to pay workers more than he would earn from selling to the buyer.
He gets PLN 1.40 per kilogram of peppers at the buyer, and sometimes even less. After deducting the costs of harvesting and slicing, only pennies remain. Meanwhile, the same pepper costs about PLN 10 in a shop.
It simply doesn’t pay – says Tomasz Jachacz
People choose the prettiest pieces, children play on the playground, there’s a mini zoo. You can see what real farming looks like – says Mr Tomasz
The proceeds from the campaign not only saved part of this year’s harvest. The farmer also decided to support a local children’s home in Lublin, donating PLN 2,000.
It’s a social contribution from everyone who came to see me – he says proudly.
He plans to develop this idea next year.
More vegetables, more space, maybe even a small market straight from the field. Onions, beetroot, carrots, pumpkins. Everything fresh and local – the farmer encourages.
Gustaw Jędrejek, President of the Lublin Chamber of Agriculture
The collapse of a large processing plant in Germany meant that Western supermarkets were flooded with goods from that market. This blocked the outlet for Polish vegetables – he explains. – Farmers are organising self-harvest because it is often the last lifeline. Without it, most of the crop would go to waste.
Self-harvest as a way to cut losses
Just a few weeks ago, the farmer tried to organise self-harvest at PLN 2 per kilogram. The farm was visited by crowds – people came with whole families and picked peppers for themselves. When interest dropped and only less ripe vegetables were left in the field, Jachacz decided to give them away for free so they would not rot in the field.
The scale of the problem – the situation in Polish fields
Many Polish farmers find themselves in a similar situation – not only in the Lublin region. Growers in other regions have also invited people to free harvesting, because vegetable sales no longer cover the costs of production and labour. Often this is the result of buyer pricing policies and instability in the agricultural market, which affect entire farming families.
Indicative pepper prices in 2025
| Market (voivodeship) | Purchase price (PLN/kg) |
|---|---|
| Lubelskie | 1.40–1.50 |
| Mazowieckie | 1.20–1.60 |
| Retail shops | 6–10 |
| Cost of harvesting and processing | approx. 0.50 |
Source: farmers’ accounts, industry interviews
What next?
Will one-off campaigns like this change anything in the market? Probably not – but they may inspire other farmers and send a signal to the authorities to start solving systemic problems. For consumers, it is in turn an impulse to appreciate the hard work done in the countryside and to choose local products, thereby supporting Polish producers.
